Technical Program Manager, USG Programs
Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.
Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
Technical Program Manager, USG Programs
As a USG Technical Program Manager, you will play a critical role driving execution of Astranis’s U.S. Government satellite programs from concept through delivery. Reporting to the Director of USG Programs, you will own program outcomes across schedule, cost, risk, and customer interface. This role requires both programmatic leadership and technical depth — balancing hands-on problem solving with strategic oversight. You will manage and drive trade studies to optimize mission system architectures, coordinate across spacecraft and ground segments, and ensure technical, contractual, and mission requirements are met. You will also help scale Astranis’s USG program execution frameworks and cross-functional processes as our portfolio expands.
Role:
- Own government-related program execution from concept to completion, ranging from small internal R&D efforts to complete multi-spacecraft missions
- Develop, maintain, and communicate program schedules, budgets, and resource plans to ensure successful delivery
- Lead the risk management process including documentation, tracking of mitigation plans, and approval of risk closure
- Deliver programs that meet all technical and programmatic requirements by tracking and reporting key performance metrics
- Drive periodic internal and external program reviews, highlighting schedule trends, risks, and progress against key milestones
- Serve as the primary customer interface for government programs, leading design reviews, reporting, and milestone readiness
- Coordinate with engineering, operations, and mission assurance teams to ensure alignment on requirements, interfaces, and design development
- Resolve technical issues by driving trade analyses and decision-making across complex mission constraints
- Ensure all customer requirements and CONOPS are met across system, space, and ground segments
- Lead technical preparation for major program milestone reviews and internal readiness gates
- Oversee preparation of system documentation and operational manuals to enable handover, operations, and sustainment
- Support recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding of additional teammates as the USG program portfolio grows
Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) in engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline
- 7+ years of program or project management experience within aerospace or space systems
- Experience with the U.S. Government contracts and customer interactions
- Proven ability to plan and execute complex technical programs in fast-paced environments
- Strong communication and presentation skills with both internal and external stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to document and communicate tactical plans, risks, and mitigations clearly
- Highly organized with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple projects simultaneously
- U.S. Citizen; eligible to obtain a TS/SCI Security Clearance
- Willing to submit to a Counterintelligence Polygraph
Bonus:
- Working knowledge of National Security and Civil Space organizations and programs
- Experience with cost account management principles and tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, MS Project)
- Systems engineering experience including requirements definition, verification, and validation
- Familiarity with mission operations, ground planning, and CONOPS development
- Experience with optical or RF payloads, payload integration, interface control, and spacecraft AI&T
- Ability to define and communicate solutions to complex technical and programmatic problems for both internal and external audiences
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal awareness, and proven ability to build alignment across diverse teams