Senior Program Manager, Mission Operations

This is a hybrid full-time position based in Seattle, WA or San Francisco, CA

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for a Senior Program Manager, Mission Operations to own two of the most consequential parts of Hubble's space business: the programs we run through our spacecraft vendors and contract manufacturers, and the day-to-day operation of the constellation those programs deliver.

You will be Hubble's single accountable owner for our spacecraft bus and contract manufacturing partners, running those programs end to end — commercial terms, design reviews, qualification campaigns, hardware delivery, launch integration, and on-orbit commissioning — and holding partners to what they committed to. In parallel you will lead Hubble's Mission Operations function: setting technical direction for how we operate our satellites and payloads, building the team and tooling to scale from a handful of vehicles to a production fleet. It suits someone who has lived on both sides of the table — a strong space program manager with genuine engineering depth, credible in a vendor review and steady in an anomaly call.

This is a full-time, supervisory position reporting directly to our Chief Operating Officer. Seattle, WA is strongly preferred; remote will be considered for the right candidate. Expect regular travel to partner facilities.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS

• A Sense of Urgency: Lead projects from concept to reality, rapidly and effectively
• First Principles Engineering: Have a strong understanding of the whys behind the "what's"; have the ability to extrapolate from first principles to complex system design
• High Learning Agility: Love to learn; have a grounded approach to recognizing your weaknesses and take the initiative to brush up on and sharpen your engineering foundations to better collaborate with your teammates with different backgrounds
• System-Level Design and Analysis: Understand the requirements flow down process and be able to quickly iterate on evolving requirements
• Excellent Communication Skills: Effectively convey ideas and communicate technical topics with engineering, build staff, and operations; run self-directed design reviews and participate in reviews of parallel systems
• Anticipation of Needs: Identify problems, think creatively, and rapidly produce reliable and cost-effective solutions to meet the ever growing and changing needs of an early-stage company

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years in space or satellite systems, spanning both program management and hands-on engineering or operations.
• Demonstrated ownership of a spacecraft, payload, or satellite program through a full lifecycle — design, qualification, delivery, launch, and on-orbit operations.
• Proven experience managing external spacecraft vendors, contract manufacturers, or prime/subcontractor relationships with real contract management, schedule execution, and cost accountability.
• Engineering depth sufficient to evaluate vendor technical work independently and push back credibly — spacecraft systems, RF communications, or a closely adjacent discipline.
• Experience with satellite or payload operations, including telemetry analysis, commanding, anomaly triage, and spacecraft / ground segment interfaces.
• Strong program management fundamentals: integrated scheduling, risk management, configuration control, and milestone-driven delivery.
• Experience leading structured technical reviews (SRR through ORR) with internal teams and external partners.
• Excellent written communication; able to produce concise, decision-oriented material for executives and investors.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience, or clear readiness to take it on.
• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (ITAR compliant).

STRONGLY DESIRED

• Experience standing up or scaling a mission operations organization.
• Familiarity with ground segment service providers, RF chain architecture, front-end processors, and communications security.
• Background in small satellite or commercial constellation programs, especially in a production or multi-vehicle context.
• Experience with launch services procurement and mission integration.
• Exposure to satellite regulatory and licensing processes, and to export control requirements (ITAR/EAR).
• Comfort with Jira, Confluence, and software development workflows for requirements and user story management.
• Experience in a startup or rapid-iteration environment, and a track record of adding rigor without adding bureaucracy.
• Engineering degree in aerospace, electrical, mechanical, or a related field. PMP or equivalent certification is a plus.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
💰 Salary: $145,000 - $235,000 (commensurate with experience, plus equity)
🩺 Comprehensive Benefits – Health, Dental, Vision, & HSA options
📈 Equity – Competitive stock option grant commensurate with experience and level
🌍 Unlimited PTO
🚇 Commuter Benefits (if working from a Hubble Network office)
💪 Health & Wellness Stipend
🌎 Sabbatical Program – Recharge and explore new ideas
🛠 Cutting-Edge Space Tech – Work on state-of-the-art satellite system

The posted compensation range reflects multiple levels within Hubble Network's Talent architecture. Final level placement and corresponding compensation will be determined through the interview and assessment process, taking into consideration factors such as the candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and geo location!

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ITAR REQUIREMENTS

Hubble is required by the U.S. Government to comply with various space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (“green card holders”) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15). More information on ITAR can be found here.

Hubble is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Each individual has the right to work in a professional environment that promotes equal employment opportunity and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.