Staff Program Manager
About The Position
Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond! Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Staff Program Manager to serve as a senior leader within our dynamic Program Management team. Reporting to the VP of Program Management, the Staff Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing strategic programs while advancing PM capabilities, processes, and team development. This role leads Deputy Program Managers, supports Sr. Program Managers by structuring program staffing, and drives the institutionalization of the Terran Program Execution System (TPES).
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related technical field (Master’s preferred).
- 15+ years of experience managing complex aerospace, defense, or technical programs.
- 3+ years of direct people leadership, including managing Program Managers or Deputies.
- Experience establishing or maturing program management processes and governance.
- Proven track record delivering programs with strong cost, schedule, and margin performance.
- Experience with structured PM frameworks (PMBOK, EVMS, AS9100, or similar).
- Strong executive‑level communication and decision‑package preparation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead change and influence across the organization.
- U.S. Citizen with ability to obtain and maintain DoD clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
- Experience with government customers and their PM practices.
- End‑to‑end satellite mission experience.
- Experience with cost‑constrained, fast‑moving aerospace environments outside major primes.
- Knowledge of satellites, space sensors, and ground system architectures.
Responsibilities
- Lead one or more high‑priority or complex programs with full accountability for cost, schedule, scope, risk, and margin.
- Oversee, develop, and assign Deputy Program Managers to ensure program coverage and talent growth.
- Maintain executable program baselines aligned with TPES standards.
- Drive cross‑functional integration across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and business functions.
- Lead internal and executive program reviews, ensuring clear risks, decisions, and recovery actions.
- Own risk management, resource planning, EAC discipline, and variance identification.
- Develop and institutionalize TPES processes, SOPs, gate criteria, and work instructions.
- Serve as a primary people leader, mentoring Program Managers and Deputies to strengthen PM competencies.
- Lead PM training, knowledge‑sharing, and capability‑building initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement across baseline establishment, proposals, risk management, and reporting.
- Contribute to PM career paths, competency models, and succession planning.
- Partner with Capture/BD on proposal governance and executable baseline discipline.
- Track and report PMO performance metrics to measure process adoption and execution health.
Benefits
- 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
- 401(k) Match
- Flexible Time Off (FTO)
- Education Reimbursement
- Competitive Paid Parental Leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
