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Technical Program Manager, Spacecraft Development

Rockville, MD

Senior Technical Program Manager, Spacecraft Development

Quantum Space

Rockville, MD

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility Ranger spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility, propulsion capability, and mission adaptability. We build fast, iterate quickly, and deliver systems that directly support critical space and defense objectives.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a Senior Technical Program Manager, Spacecraft Development who combines deep aerospace technical expertise with exceptional program execution leadership. This role is ideal for a systems engineer, spacecraft integration lead, or mission architect who has grown into full technical, cost, and schedule ownership of complex spacecraft or payload programs.

Where You'll Make an Impact

As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you will lead mission execution from early concept development through launch and on-orbit operations while serving as a key technical interface with customers and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Own full technical, cost, and schedule accountability for spacecraft, payload, and subsystem development programs
  • Define, mature, and negotiate mission concepts, including:
    • Payload integration studies
    • Mission analysis
    • System architecture trades
    • Concept of operations development
  • Lead cross-functional execution across:
    • Systems engineering
    • Vehicle engineering
    • Avionics
    • Software
    • Propulsion
    • Thermal
    • AI&T
    • Manufacturing and supply chain
  • Develop and maintain:
    • Integrated master schedules (IMS)
    • Program plans and milestones
    • Technical documentation and interface requirements
    • Spacecraft capability and mission architecture documentation
  • Serve as the primary customer-facing technical and programmatic lead during:
    • Early mission formulation
    • Technical interchange meetings (TIMs/TEMs)
    • SRR, PDR, CDR, and milestone reviews
    • Proposal and capture activities
  • Lead technical negotiations and ensure customer requirements align with Quantum Space capabilities
  • Identify program risks, dependencies, and resource constraints and drive mitigation plans to closure
  • Support mission-level engineering activities including:
    • Requirements development
    • Payload-to-bus compatibility
    • Architecture studies
    • Mission assurance planning
  • Contribute to proposal development, business capture, and growth of the company’s mission portfolio
  • Bring execution discipline and mission assurance rigor to a fast-paced, rapidly evolving commercial space environment

What It Takes

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline
  • 10+ years of experience leading spacecraft, satellite, or aerospace development programs
  • Direct experience designing, integrating, testing, or operating spacecraft or space systems
  • Strong technical background in:
    • Systems engineering
    • Spacecraft integration & test (I&T)
    • Mission architecture
    • Payload integration
  • Experience leading hardware-intensive aerospace programs through formal milestone reviews
  • Strong understanding of:
    • Spacecraft subsystems
    • Space system architectures
    • Mission modeling and simulation
    • Program execution under cost and schedule constraints
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to engage credibly with customers, executives, and engineering teams
  • Ability to travel up to 25%

Nice-To-Have Experience

  • Master’s degree or higher in Engineering or related discipline
  • 15+ years of aerospace or space industry experience
  • Experience supporting National Security Space programs or government customers
  • Experience with:
    • Satellite constellation analysis and simulation
    • Electro-optical, RF, infrared, communications, or PNT payloads
    • Mission assurance and export control requirements (ITAR)
    • Rapid development or prototype-to-production environments
    • Proposal development and government capture activities
  • Familiarity with national security ground systems, networking, tasking, planning, and mission operations architectures
  • Active U.S. Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance, or eligibility to obtain one

What You’ll Get

  • Ownership: Leadership ownership of high-visibility national security and commercial space missions
  • Exposure: Opportunity to help shape the future of Quantum Space as we scale from prototype to production
  • Growth: Build trusted partnerships across leadership, engineering, and business teams. Opportunities for training and development. 
  • Compensation: Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply now and help build the next generation of spacecraft.

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