Technical Program Manager - Space Ground Control Program

Stellar Solutions, a nationally recognized "Great Place To Work", has exciting opportunities providing Engineering solutions for innovative new-entrant space companies, as well as established space systems manufacturers, commercial space system operators and service providers, and other industry stakeholders including investors.

At Stellar Solutions, we offer talented, energetic, and immediately productive resources to satisfy our customers' critical needs in systems engineering and integration, mission operations, program management and strategic planning. We are a leading service and expertise provider for high-tech commercial ventures, spanning communications, earth observation and remote sensing systems and data products, to the infrastructures that support earth orbiting and beyond earth orbit businesses.

Stellar Solutions is searching for a Technical Program Manager to work with contractor colleagues and government clients from various Department of Defense and other government agencies to plan and manage a large-scale space ground control program supporting the GSIS - Future Operational Ground System for GPS.

In this role you will work with an integrated contractor and government team from across the Department of Defense and other government agencies to plan and manage a large-scale space ground control program.

Key responsibilities include:

• Planning and managing a large-scale space ground control program in support of the Future Operational Ground System for GPS.

• Leading the development and analysis of project plans, schedules, cost estimates, risk management plans, performance metrics, acquisition strategy documents, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

• Helping the United States Space Force manage multiple development contractors for the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) program as they deliver mission-critical hardware and software for the Global Positioning System (GPS).

• Managing upcoming GPS launch projects and teams, coordinating across mission partners and development contractors.

• Leading technical teams in solving client problems related to systems engineering and program management for space ground control and cybersecurity programs.

• Supporting the United States Space Force in ensuring a cyber-secure OCX system, spanning the management and sustainment of the current operational launch capability.

• Preparing and managing the next launch campaign, including planning and coordinating ground station upgrades that enable new satellite capabilities.

This is a Senior-level position. Ideal candidates will have significant experience working in complex, multi-contractor defense space environments and be comfortable interfacing with senior government customers, prime contractors, and mission partners.

Required Skills

• 11-15 years of relevant experience supporting large, complex defense or national security space programs, with an emphasis on ground systems, mission operations, and/or acquisition support.

• Demonstrated experience in technical program management for space ground control, mission systems, or similar large-scale technical programs.

• Experience leading the development and analysis of project plans, schedules, cost estimates, risk management plans, performance metrics, and acquisition documentation such as acquisition strategies and RFPs.

• Experience working with or supporting United States Space Force, Space Systems Command, or comparable DoD acquisition organizations.

• Background in systems engineering, systems integration, or program management within a space or ground system context.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare technical reports, decision briefings, and recommendations for senior government stakeholders.

• Ability to work collaboratively within an integrated government/contractor team environment and to lead cross-functional technical teams.

• Master's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or a closely related technical discipline. A relevant bachelor's degree with additional directly applicable experience may be considered in lieu of a master's degree.

Desired Skills

• Experience with GPS, OCX, GSIS, and related space ground control systems.

• Experience supporting Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and familiarity with DoD 5000-series acquisition processes.

• Experience with systems engineering and integration (SE&I) for ground systems, including integration of new capabilities into existing operational architectures.

• Familiarity with cybersecurity for mission-critical ground systems and the integration of cyber requirements into program planning and execution.

• Experience planning and executing launch campaigns and coordinating launch-related ground station upgrades.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and their application to large software-intensive defense programs.

• Professional certifications such as PMP, INCOSE CSEP, or similar are a plus.

Security Clearance & Other Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.

• TS/SCI (SSBI) clearance is required.

• Ability to work on-site with government and contractor teams and to occasionally travel to contractor facilities, test sites, or launch locations as needed.

Location

This position is full-time, on-site in Aurora, Colorado.

The typical salary range for this position is USD $160,000 - $172,000 per year. Individual pay is determined by many factors including work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus, retirement plan and other benefits (all included as part of package and in addition to annual salary).

Deliverables for this role include developing technical reports and recommendations for senior DoD clients, and working with government and corporate stakeholders to implement agreed solutions. The contractor will provide both factory and remote oversight of development-contractor design, development, and integration activities, and will work across multiple Government and contractor teams to detect, track, and manage risks and issues related to development and integration of launch capabilities. These deliverables will help establish the technical and programmatic foundation for launching new capabilities over the next several years.