Senior Program Manager, EO/IR (Space Systems)

Location: Hybrid in San Jose, California; on-site work required three days per week. U.S. citizenship is required, and the program is ITAR-restricted.

Salary: $131,000–$198,000 per year, plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global designs, builds, and operates low Earth orbit satellite constellations for climate monitoring, national security, and other mission-critical Earth intelligence applications.

What you will do

• Own program delivery across cost, schedule, technical performance, the integrated master schedule, cost baseline, and risk register.
• Lead the program through preliminary and critical design reviews, laboratory demonstration assembly, environmental testing, and final reporting.
• Serve as the primary customer interface and lead kickoffs, design reviews, demonstrations, quarterly status reporting, and customer deliverables.
• Manage subcontractors and critical-path vendors supporting mission data processing, algorithm development, optical design, focal plane arrays, detector cooler assemblies, and cryocoolers.
• Partner with the Principal Investigator and technical leads across payload design, AI&T, optics, electronics, software, mechanisms, thermal, and mission systems.
• Coordinate with Contracts and Finance on subcontract changes, invoicing, compliance, and program financial reporting.

Requirements

• 8+ years of program management experience delivering complex technical systems through development, deployment, and operations.
• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience, preferably in engineering or a similar discipline.
• Direct experience in space, defense, or aerospace program planning and execution.
• Experience managing multiple subcontractors, critical-path supply chains, government customers, rapid-acquisition contracts, technical data rights, and CDRL management.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a U.S. Top Secret clearance are required.
• Excellent written communication skills for authoring and approving customer-facing deliverables.

Nice to have

• TS/SCI clearance and experience with SDA, USSF Space Systems Command, MDA, or NRO customer offices.
• Experience with missile warning, missile tracking, OPIR, or HBTSS-class space-based infrared programs.
• Knowledge of MWIR sensor architectures, focal plane arrays, IDCAs, cryocooler integration, and environmental test campaigns.
• PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with equity compensation.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus a 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Three weeks of paid vacation for new employees, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time, and paid parental leave.
• Commitment to diversity, equal employment opportunity, and reasonable application accommodations.