As a Kepler Program Manager, you will own program execution and implement high-level program initiatives to grow and nurture our global partnerships and maintain our upward trajectory of success and growth. Ultimately, if you are motivated by the desire to optimize productivity and nurture program success from inception to completion; you are flexible and adaptive to a rapidly evolving work environment.
In this role, you will oversee the preparation and coordination of technical iterations upon our ÆTHER spacecraft, commissioning plans, flight software development, and GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) capabilities to ensure successful demonstration of Kepler’s on-orbit objectives. This will be in support of the design, development, and build of our Tranche-2 ring of spacecraft.
You will be a key leader, partnering closely with our Engineering and Operations organizations to manage on-time and on-budget execution of these imperative efforts from program kickoff to handoff to operations. Additionally, you may be a key member of proposal teams for any opportunities that involve the development or modification of flight software, commissioning, or operations of space vehicles.
Responsibilities:
- Ensuring the effective and efficient program and product team planning for systems and subsystems.
- Holding the teams accountable and making clear decisions on scope change, performance specifications, and being able to communicate clear recommendations to the business leadership on direction.
- Leading a cross-functional team that maintains alignment between engineering, operations, program management, and business development.
- Reporting on programmatic key performance indicators, including but not limited to EAC/ETC metrics.
- Partnering closely with the program director, other program managers, the chief engineer, and the systems engineering organization to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging.
- Identifying barriers to successful program execution, helping the teams determine and finalize mitigation strategies for key risks, and escalating as appropriate.
- Ensuring a clear software development strategy and process are maintained and followed.
- Generating integrated programmatic artefacts that combine the cost of executing our objectives.
- Working closely with department leads to communicate top risks and milestones, maintain alignment, and hold them accountable for their various functional responsibilities.
- Clearly communicating program status and key performance indicators to stakeholders in the most effective forums.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering or relevant technical field.
- 5+ years of experience in Program Management and/or Systems Engineering in a high-reliability environment.
- 8+ years of aerospace experience including R&D, AI&T, LEOP, commissioning, and operations.
- Extensive program planning skills.
- Experience with flight software development and GNC/AOCS subsystem development.
- Experience with agile framework execution and best practices, and blending these into hardware program execution.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Exceptional organizational skills.
- Experience with managing highly complex development programs.
Bonus Points:
- Experience moving hardware and software from R&D to production to operations.
- Knowledge and / or experience in RF components, conops, and interfaces.
- Knowledge and / or experience in optical communications.
- Master of Business Administration or similar higher education.
