Technical Program Operations Lead
Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)
Outpost is pioneering Earth return logistics for space. We're building vehicles that can return payloads from orbit safely and precisely—enabling faster space-based manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. Our spacecraft is already backed by the U.S. government with multiple missions ahead. We’re a mission-focused team, building with urgency, grit, and care for the work we do and the people we do it with.
About the Role:
As the Technical Program Operations Lead you will serve as a strategic support arm to the VP of Engineering by managing critical external technical engagements, maintaining program-level schedules, ensuring subcontractor alignment, and enabling seamless execution across engineering programs.
Qualifications:
- 5–8 years of experience in engineering program management, technical subcontract management, or a related role in aerospace, defense, or a high-tech environment.
- Proven ability to manage technical subcontracts or external vendor relationships, including tracking scope, deliverables, and technical alignment.
- Strong understanding of engineering development lifecycles and ability to work cross-functionally with systems, mechanical, avionics, and software teams.
- Experience maintaining or contributing to an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, with a proactive, detail-oriented approach to following up and driving accountability.
- Comfortable acting as a trusted partner to senior technical leaders, taking ownership of high-leverage, cross-functional tasks with minimal direction.
Responsibilities:
Technical Oversight & Subcontractor Management
- Act as the primary point of contact for key technical subcontractors or external vendors, representing Outpost’s technical and programmatic interests.
- Ensure technical questions and decisions are routed to the appropriate internal subject matter experts for resolution.
- Monitor technical execution and validate that subcontractors are aligned with scope, milestones, and expectations.
- Serve as a technical subcontract lead, helping translate internal direction into clear external deliverables.
- Act as engineering oversight to subcontractors — providing accountability, clarity, and coordination.
Program & Schedule Support (Government Contracts)
- Support the maintenance and execution of schedules and deliverables for government-funded programs.
- Help manage the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) by tracking task progress and following up with internal stakeholders to ensure milestones stay on track.
- Assist with program planning, deliverable tracking, and compliance reporting related to government contract execution.
- Provide ad hoc program management support as needed to keep programs moving.
Ongoing Engineering Support & Coordination
- Help track engineering tasks, deliverables, and communications across multiple initiatives.
- Coordinate cross-functional updates and help maintain alignment between engineering and program goals.
- Identify inefficiencies or gaps in visibility and propose lightweight systems or tools for improvement.
Compensation & Benefits:
- $140k - $200k, Salary is based on experience.
- Incentive Equity
- Annual Performance-Based Bonus
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- PTO
- 401k with Company match
- Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee
You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 , or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
