Program Manager - Space Program

Peraton is seeking a Program Manager (Program Director) within the Civil Space Operating Unit. This leadership role is responsible for the successful planning, execution, and delivery of one of NASA’s most critical communications and navigation programs. Serving as the primary interface with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the DSN M&O contract Program Manager ensures contractual, technical, and business objectives are achieved.

NASA’s Deep Space Network is the world’s largest and most capable international system of radio antennas, providing continuous communications, tracking, navigation, and mission support for spacecraft exploring the Moon, planets, and deep space. Operating 24 hours a day from strategically located complexes in California, Spain, and Australia, the DSN enables NASA’s most ambitious exploration missions by delivering mission-critical command, telemetry, tracking, and scientific data services.

 

The DSN M&O contract provides support for the operations, sustainment, modernization, and continuous improvement of NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in Monrovia, California. The Program manager provides leadership across the Peraton facility in Monrovia California and the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, ensuring financial performance, risk management and delivering program objectives on schedule and within budget.

Must be local to the Los Angeles region and hybrid at Peraton’s Monrovia site.

 

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the overall lead for contract execution and the primary point of contact.
• Provide leadership and oversight of all program activities including O&M, modernization, transition, and mission assurance.
• Develop and execute program management plans, schedules, budgets, and resource plans
• Serve as the primary customer point of contact
• Manage contract performance to meet cost, schedule, technical, and quality objectives
• Ensure that safety and mission assurance objectives are key priorities for all employees and sites
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks and opportunities
• Engage senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with mission objectives.
• Ability to lead and coordinate across geographically dispersed teams

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, Science, or Math, or related technical discipline, and 16+ years of related experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and insight into commercial space communications architecture, services, and approaches
• Experience managing large ($50M plus) projects with respect to cost, schedule, performance, and risk
• Minimum 8+ years of experience interfacing with Government and/or Prime customers to provide status of projects and resolving program issues
• Experience with selection and hiring of candidates for technical and management positions and conducting performance evaluations and salary reviews for assigned staff
• Experience with managing programs with modern and current IT, such as cloud and/or virtual networks
• PMP certification.

 

Desired Qualifications:

• Expert practitioner in systems engineering
• 5+ years’ experience working with NASA and deep understanding of NASA’s systems, standards, policies and procedures for execution and operations of their missions
• Experience with developing and/or managing commercial SATCOM systems
• Experience with leading a team to develop creative ways to adapt to current technology, increasing efficiency and maximizing the potential of existing assets.
• Ability to succeed in the fast-paced and changing environments of program execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent teamwork

 

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

$176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.