Staff Technical Program Manager (Aerospace)

Location: Long Beach, California, United States

Hiring range: $152,000–$228,000 USD per year

Company

Aerospace product company developing launch vehicles, rocket manufacturing capabilities, and commercial orbital launch services.

What you will do

• Lead cross-functional program execution for a launch vehicle across design, build, qualification, and flight.
• Translate long-term and ambiguous business objectives into clear priorities, trade-offs, schedules, and recommendations.
• Manage program schedules, dependencies, interfaces, and risks across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and software.
• Identify and resolve critical bottlenecks while balancing technical requirements and business objectives.
• Build communication mechanisms and fit-for-purpose processes from scratch.
• Partner with technical leaders, manufacturing and operations counterparts, and other program managers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or a related field; aerospace, electrical, or mechanical engineering is preferred.
• 7+ years of experience leading complex programs or large technical hardware programs.
• Experience supporting cross-functional hardware teams from concept through delivery in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments.
• Ability to solve ambiguous problems and create sustainable processes and tools from scratch.
• Strong communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Systems mindset with the ability to identify dependencies, interfaces, risks, and cross-team impacts.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with launch vehicles, propulsion systems, or aerospace hardware.
• PMP, MBA, or a master’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or a related field.
• Executive presence and experience driving clarity across organizational levels.
• Technical leadership and strategic decision-making experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on the Terran R launch vehicle and related rocket manufacturing systems.
• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave.
• Parental leave.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Autonomous, ownership-oriented environment with cross-functional collaboration.