Sr Manager, Software Engineering

Sierra Space • Centennial, CO

1d

About The Position

The Senior Manager will be responsible for translating functional plans into operational objectives and driving the success of larger projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization. This role requires a seasoned leader with extensive managerial experience, a proven track record of managing large teams and complex projects, and the ability to interact with executive leadership. The Senior Manager will oversee multiple disciplines or departments, ensuring that operational processes align with strategic objectives and financial plans. This position demands a strong commitment to upholding company values, supporting organizational changes, and fostering a culture of excellence. They possess in-depth knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices, as well as strong financial acumen and budget management skills.
This position serves as the leader of all Ground Software development efforts for our satellite constellation programs, providing functional management for direct team members in the Ground Software group while overseeing schedule and planning development across the entire lifecycle. The role involves working closely with stakeholders and program management to streamline and optimize development processes, leading the team to design and implement complex mission-focused ground software that will support and control multiple satellite missions. The leader will direct the team to develop and execute comprehensive tests at the Unit, Integrated, and Functional Test levels, ensuring ground software delivery across the entire Software Development Lifecycle while maintaining execution in accordance with financial plans and accountability for ground software cost accounts. As a cultural ambassador, this leader embodies our values and exemplary leadership, leads and supports change initiatives, and holds others accountable to company values. The position requires regular interaction with leadership, including at the executive level, on cross-functional and/or customer matters, demonstrating the ability to persuade in sensitive and complex situations. Additionally, the leader will spearhead recruitment efforts to build a world-class ground software team while implementing targeted development plans to enhance team capabilities in ground systems development, satellite command and control, telemetry processing, and mission operations support.

Requirements

• Requires bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree)
• Several years of relevant work experience with a significant portion in a managerial or leadership role
• Proven track record of successfully managing large teams and complex projects
• Upholds and models company values; ability to hold others accountable to values
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to translate functional plans into operational plans; identifies and executes operational initiatives
• In-depth knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices
• Strong financial acumen and budget management skills
• Experience supporting organizational changes
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a relevant field
• Previous functional management experience
• Technical leadership experience such as scrum lead, product owner, technical lead
• Practical experience architecting, developing, testing, and troubleshooting ground software
• Thorough understanding and experience spanning the full software development lifecycle
• Practical experience utilizing CI/CD practices as well as automated build and test
• Familiarity with common object-oriented software design patterns
• Experience with Agile software development methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban
• Desire to work with, learn from, and mentor others
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data-driven decision-making
• Proven ability to interact effectively with executive leadership and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Translating functional plans into operational objectives
• Driving the success of larger projects that contribute to multiple areas of the organization
• Overseeing multiple disciplines or departments, ensuring that operational processes align with strategic objectives and financial plans
• Leading all Ground Software development efforts for our satellite constellation programs
• Providing functional management for direct team members in the Ground Software group while overseeing schedule and planning development across the entire lifecycle
• Working closely with stakeholders and program management to streamline and optimize development processes
• Leading the team to design and implement complex mission-focused ground software that will support and control multiple satellite missions
• Directing the team to develop and execute comprehensive tests at the Unit, Integrated, and Functional Test levels
• Ensuring ground software delivery across the entire Software Development Lifecycle while maintaining execution in accordance with financial plans and accountability for ground software cost accounts
• Embodying company values and exemplary leadership
• Leading and supporting change initiatives
• Holding others accountable to company values
• Spearheading recruitment efforts to build a world-class ground software team
• Implementing targeted development plans to enhance team capabilities in ground systems development, satellite command and control, telemetry processing, and mission operations support

Benefits

• We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees