Staff Program Manager

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Staff Program Manager to serve as a senior leader within our dynamic Program Management team. Reporting to the VP of Program Management, the Staff Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing strategic programs while advancing PM capabilities, processes, and team development. This role leads Deputy Program Managers, supports Sr. Program Managers by structuring program staffing, and drives the institutionalization of the Terran Program Execution System (TPES).  

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead one or more high‑priority or complex programs with full accountability for cost, schedule, scope, risk, and margin.
• Oversee, develop, and assign Deputy Program Managers to ensure program coverage and talent growth.
• Maintain executable program baselines aligned with TPES standards.
• Drive cross‑functional integration across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and business functions.
• Lead internal and executive program reviews, ensuring clear risks, decisions, and recovery actions.
• Own risk management, resource planning, EAC discipline, and variance identification.
• Develop and institutionalize TPES processes, SOPs, gate criteria, and work instructions.
• Serve as a primary people leader, mentoring Program Managers and Deputies to strengthen PM competencies.
• Lead PM training, knowledge‑sharing, and capability‑building initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement across baseline establishment, proposals, risk management, and reporting.
• Contribute to PM career paths, competency models, and succession planning.
• Partner with Capture/BD on proposal governance and executable baseline discipline.
• Track and report PMO performance metrics to measure process adoption and execution health.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related technical field (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of experience managing complex aerospace, defense, or technical programs.
• 3+ years of direct people leadership, including managing Program Managers or Deputies.
• Experience establishing or maturing program management processes and governance.
• Proven track record delivering programs with strong cost, schedule, and margin performance.
• Experience with structured PM frameworks (PMBOK, EVMS, AS9100, or similar).
• Strong executive‑level communication and decision‑package preparation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and influence across the organization.
• U.S. Citizen with ability to obtain and maintain DoD clearance.

Additional Differentiators

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• Experience with government customers and their PM practices.
• End‑to‑end satellite mission experience.
• Experience with cost‑constrained, fast‑moving aerospace environments outside major primes.
• Knowledge of satellites, space sensors, and ground system architectures.

Full-time positions only:

Benefits

• 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital 

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hr@terranorbital.com.

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.