Mission Manager (Space & Defense)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States; on-site.

Salary: $130,000–$200,000 per year, plus equity.

Company

Develops next-generation RF products and services for demanding space and defense missions, including a flexible platform for deploying, monitoring, and scaling advanced radio technologies.

What you will do

• Build mission plans with customers and internal teams, track dependencies, and keep schedules on track.
• Coordinate forward-deployed engineers and technical specialists, ensuring teams have the context and information required for execution.
• Partner with licensing teams to collect vehicle and mission details, track regulatory filings, and coordinate authorizations with customers and ground providers.
• Drive customer integrations, radio configurations, onboarding, completion, and testing across internal and partner ground networks.
• Lead mission readiness reviews and test campaigns, obtain technical sign-off, and identify when missions are not ready to proceed.
• Plan deployment and operational support, including launch and early-orbit support where applicable.

Requirements

• 4–8 years of experience in mission management, mission operations, integration, or technical program management.
• Experience taking a complex technical mission or deployment through integration, testing, and operations.
• Ability to hold engineering teams and customers accountable to commitments and push back on unrealistic timelines.
• Self-directed approach to building plans, managing priorities, and driving execution.
• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b, or eligible to obtain the necessary authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, due to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR.

Nice to have

• Technical understanding of RF links, ground software, and mission communications, with the judgment to challenge assumptions and involve specialists when needed.
• Ground segment or commercial Ground Station as a Service experience.
• Familiarity with communications licensing and regulatory filings.
• Experience supporting defense, government, or lunar missions.
• Experience developing operational procedures and processes in a small company or startup.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) program.
• Competitive paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Equity in addition to base salary.
• Inclusive and accessible workplace with accommodations available throughout the hiring process.