{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"bb8960f111efae25e11df940","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bb8960f111efae25e11df940","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bb8960f111efae25e11df940","title":"Program Manager - Spacecraft & Propulsion Programs","description":"Program Manager - Lead First-Generation Satellite Programs from Kickoff to FlightEl Segundo, CA | On-siteWe are an early-stage space company building advanced electric propulsion and the spacecraft that will fly it. We are hiring a Program Manager to own our first-generation satellite programs, from contract award through hardware delivery. You will keep engineering, customers, and partners aligned, turn technical plans into schedules people trust, and help win the next round of government and commercial work.This is a builder's seat on a small team, where your planning decides how quickly hardware gets to orbit.We are a seed-stage, venture-backed aerospace company in the Los Angeles area developing plasma propulsion that lets satellites stay in lower orbits for longer and maneuver far more freely than they can today. Our work is funded by venture investors and multiple Department of Defense and federal research contracts, and we are moving from lab prototypes toward our first flight hardware for national security and commercial customers.Job DutiesOwn scope, schedule, and budget for early satellite and propulsion programs from kickoff through deliveryBuild and maintain integrated schedules, risk registers, and resource plansServe as the primary point of contact for government customers and partners on milestones and deliverablesRun program reviews and keep leadership informed of progress, risks, and decisions neededPartner with engineering on requirements, interfaces, verification planning, and other systems engineering tasksWrite and coordinate technical and management volumes for SBIR/STTR and other government proposalsTrack contract deliverables, reports, and billing milestones, and raise issues earlyCoordinate suppliers, outside test facilities, and partners to keep hardware campaigns movingBuild simple tools and dashboards in Python or similar to track program healthQualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field3+ years of experience managing complex engineering programs, ideally in aerospace, satellite, or defense hardwareWorking knowledge of systems engineering and the hardware development lifecycleHands-on experience with scheduling and program management tools such as MS Project or SmartsheetExperience writing technical proposals or supporting business development and customer relationshipsClear, concise written and verbal communication with technical and government audiencesU.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearancePreferred ExperienceFamiliarity with satellite subsystems, orbital mechanics, or spacecraft manufacturingExperience with DoD, Space Force, or Air Force Research Laboratory contracts and acquisitionPrior execution of SBIR Phase I or Phase II programsBasic Python or data analysis skillsExperience at an early-stage hardware startupPMP or similar certificationWhy Join UsOwn programs end to end and set how the company runs programs as it growsWork directly with the founders and a small team of propulsion and spacecraft engineersHelp put a new propulsion capability into orbit for national security and commercial missionsMeaningful early-stage equityMedical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), and unlimited paid time offCompensation Details: $120,000 - $165,000 + equity","company":"Approach Venture","rawCompany":"approach venture","city":"El Segundo","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":true,"createdAt":"2026-11-06T12:18:15.118Z","occupations":[{"code":"13-1082.00","title":"Project Management Specialists","slug":"project-management-specialists"},{"code":"11-9041.00","title":"Architectural and Engineering Managers","slug":"architectural-and-engineering-managers"},{"code":"17-2011.00","title":"Aerospace Engineers","slug":"aerospace-engineers"}],"industries":[{"code":"336414","title":"Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing","slug":"guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufacturing"},{"code":"927110","title":"Space Research and Technology","slug":"space-research-and-technology"},{"code":"336419","title":"Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing","slug":"other-guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-parts-and-auxiliary-equipment-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Program Manager - Spacecraft & Propulsion Programs","description":"Program Manager - Lead First-Generation Satellite Programs from Kickoff to FlightEl Segundo, CA | On-siteWe are an early-stage space company building advanced electric propulsion and the spacecraft that will fly it. We are hiring a Program Manager to own our first-generation satellite programs, from contract award through hardware delivery. You will keep engineering, customers, and partners aligned, turn technical plans into schedules people trust, and help win the next round of government and commercial work.This is a builder's seat on a small team, where your planning decides how quickly hardware gets to orbit.We are a seed-stage, venture-backed aerospace company in the Los Angeles area developing plasma propulsion that lets satellites stay in lower orbits for longer and maneuver far more freely than they can today. Our work is funded by venture investors and multiple Department of Defense and federal research contracts, and we are moving from lab prototypes toward our first flight hardware for national security and commercial customers.Job DutiesOwn scope, schedule, and budget for early satellite and propulsion programs from kickoff through deliveryBuild and maintain integrated schedules, risk registers, and resource plansServe as the primary point of contact for government customers and partners on milestones and deliverablesRun program reviews and keep leadership informed of progress, risks, and decisions neededPartner with engineering on requirements, interfaces, verification planning, and other systems engineering tasksWrite and coordinate technical and management volumes for SBIR/STTR and other government proposalsTrack contract deliverables, reports, and billing milestones, and raise issues earlyCoordinate suppliers, outside test facilities, and partners to keep hardware campaigns movingBuild simple tools and dashboards in Python or similar to track program healthQualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field3+ years of experience managing complex engineering programs, ideally in aerospace, satellite, or defense hardwareWorking knowledge of systems engineering and the hardware development lifecycleHands-on experience with scheduling and program management tools such as MS Project or SmartsheetExperience writing technical proposals or supporting business development and customer relationshipsClear, concise written and verbal communication with technical and government audiencesU.S. citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearancePreferred ExperienceFamiliarity with satellite subsystems, orbital mechanics, or spacecraft manufacturingExperience with DoD, Space Force, or Air Force Research Laboratory contracts and acquisitionPrior execution of SBIR Phase I or Phase II programsBasic Python or data analysis skillsExperience at an early-stage hardware startupPMP or similar certificationWhy Join UsOwn programs end to end and set how the company runs programs as it growsWork directly with the founders and a small team of propulsion and spacecraft engineersHelp put a new propulsion capability into orbit for national security and commercial missionsMeaningful early-stage equityMedical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), and unlimited paid time offCompensation Details: $120,000 - $165,000 + equity","datePosted":"2026-11-06T12:18:15.118Z","dateModified":"2026-11-06T12:18:15.118Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Approach Venture","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"El Segundo","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"bb8960f111efae25e11df940"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bb8960f111efae25e11df940"}}