Program Manager – ASTRA Risk Manager

Accountabilities

• Own the portfolio risk-management operating rhythm, including risk identification, assessment, scoring, ownership, mitigation planning, tracking, and closure.

• Maintain the integrated portfolio risk and opportunity register and analyze trends, dependencies, and mitigation effectiveness across programs.

• Assess technical maturity, schedule performance, resource constraints, material availability, supplier performance, cost exposure, customer dependencies, security requirements, and contractual considerations.

• Coordinate recurring risk reviews with program managers and functional organizations across engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, finance, contracts, security, and subcontractors.

• Identify emerging risks and opportunities, recommend mitigation or recovery actions, and escalate unresolved issues requiring program, customer, or executive intervention.

• Ensure risk posture is accurately incorporated into program plans, integrated schedules, forecasts, estimate-at-complete updates, proposal assumptions, and management reviews.

• Directly manage smaller, discrete programs and special projects, maintaining execution plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, staffing, material status, technical readiness, costs, and deliverables.

• Monitor cost and schedule performance, support earned-value inputs and variance explanations when applicable, and develop recovery actions before issues become critical.

• Prepare portfolio risk summaries, program status materials, mitigation plans, action logs, decision records, milestone-readiness packages, and follow-up communications.

• Support design reviews, program reviews, customer meetings, contract deliverables, production-readiness events, and deliveries by ensuring clear ownership and risk-informed decisions.

• Contribute to proposals, follow-on efforts, and contract changes through program performance analysis, risk posture, technical maturity, material lead times, staffing requirements, lessons learned, and basis-of-estimate inputs.

• Lead risk and execution working sessions, assign and track routine actions, request status from functional teams, and drive closure of cross-functional issues.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with at least 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with at least 6 years of relevant experience to meet managerial expectations.

• Active Top Secret security clearance is required at the time of hire, with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance within a reasonable timeframe.

• U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of the classified work and government security requirements.

• Demonstrated experience managing program risks, schedules, dependencies, and cross-functional execution.

• Experience developing and maintaining risk and opportunity registers, mitigation plans, action tracking, and executive-level risk reporting.

• Working knowledge of program controls, Earned Value Management, cost and schedule performance, and integrated master schedules.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate concise risk, status, and decision information to customers and senior leadership.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities across a portfolio while directly leading programs and special projects.

• Experience with high-reliability spaceflight hardware supporting national security missions is preferred.

• Experience with RF payload development and production, structured risk management, or advanced program management environments is preferred.

• Experience resolving schedule challenges, implementing contingency plans, and overseeing recovery from build or test issues is a plus.

• Experience managing scope control on complex development or production contracts, including fixed-price contracts, is preferred.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with experienced engineers and architects on technical and programmatic challenges, including design-to-cost and design-to-schedule.

• Interest in technology maturation and technology risk management, with willingness to develop knowledge of relevant RF technology fundamentals.

• Mission-oriented mindset and ability to understand customer objectives and communicate solutions using mission-focused terminology.

• Adaptability to managing portfolios that may shift between one large program and multiple smaller technology development programs.

• Interest in applying AI to continuous improvement, innovation, and program execution.

Benefits:

• Expected salary range of $156,444–$173,555 per year, depending on experience, geographic location, and other factors.

• Flexible work environment with remote work eligibility.

• Opportunity to work with advanced, highly classified technologies supporting critical national security missions.

• Exposure to high-reliability spaceflight hardware, RF technologies, technology maturation, and complex development and production programs.

• Opportunities to expand technical and program management knowledge while working alongside experienced engineers, architects, and cross-functional leaders.

• Mission-driven environment focused on innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Opportunities to contribute to AI-enabled innovation and improved program execution.

• Benefits package and employee programs designed to support a flexible and rewarding work environment.