Program Design Manager Jobs in Sun City, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world.   For over 20 years, Iridium's unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed.  Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions.  Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world.  Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves.   We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

If you are intrigued by space and satellites and love managing technical programs in a fast-paced and customer-focused environment, then you will be excited about the SDA T3 Program Manager opening with Iridium on a Space Development Agency (SDA) project. In this position, you'll be responsible for working with senior management to establish strategic plans and objectives as it relates to a high-impact program with a multi-million dollar impact to the company. In this role, you will focus primarily on integrated program planning, execution, customer engagement, and risk management to ensure contractual commitments are achieved. You will succeed in this role if you have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to successfully work with customers, build relationships, and lead the technical team to deliver solutions that meet our customer's needs and expectations.

This position requires an active/current Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with a CI Polygraph or the ability to obtain a TS/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with a CI Polygraph (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active.)

• Work with senior management to develop strategic plans associated with the development and execution of the program's technical vision, including managing delivery of high-quality results and complex solutions and providing ideas and suggestions for continuous improvement cross-functionally
• Manage the coordination and delivery of multiple or complex assignments designed with end goals in mind, within identified timeline and budget
• Ensure that projects meet financial performance targets as established in project pipeline budgets and Estimates to Complete
• Ensure that projects deliver quality results, activities are well-designed, and funds are expended to meet overall project objectives, contract deliverables, and indicator targets
• Serve as a sounding board on strategic program decisions and provide thought leadership in program design and delivery
• Manage the requirements and planning basis in a methodical and organized manner, including use of configuration management practices (CM)
• Develop and maintain integrated program roadmaps, execution plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies to successfully deliver program objectives.
• Coordinate priorities across engineering, product, operations, business, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to ensure alignment and timely execution.
• Identify, assess, and proactively manage program risks, dependencies, issues, and opportunities while implementing effective mitigation plans.
• Facilitate program reviews, governance meetings, customer briefings, and executive communications to support timely decision-making and stakeholder alignment.
• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to monitor program cost, schedule, and technical performance, analyze variances, forecast outcomes, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs) to validate the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), ensuring scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risks are fully integrated and compliant with contractual EVMS requirements.
• Drive achievement of major engineering milestones and contractual deliverables while ensuring program execution remains aligned with customer expectations.

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in engineering, mathematics, or science or equivalent military experiene in lieu of degree
• 12+ years of relevant experience in U.S. Government (USG) development and/or operational program/project management experience, preferably in a large, global organization
• 5+ years' experience in management of complex technical projects, preferably on Department of Defense (DoD) and/or Intelligence Community (IC) satellite or satellite ground programs
• 5-7 years of classical engineering experience
• Experience leading Scaled Agile projects
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues clearly and confidently, and confidently recognize and adapt to different communication techniques
• Be a strategic thinker who demonstrates good judgment and decisiveness
• Be able to analyze a situation or problem and come up with effective solutions
• The ability to easily form relationships with executive leadership and encourage cross-functional team building
• The ability to thrive in a dynamic environment by handling multiple tasks according to deadline and budget limitations
• Be proactive in finding new and enhanced ways of doing things and sharing your knowledge with others
• Experience managing cross-functional issues where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangibles
• The ability to foster cross-functional team building to deliver complex projects/individual goals

• Project Management Accreditation (APMP, PMI or equivalent)

• Be able to travel up to 20%
• Be a U.S. citizen

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer. 

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium's Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $168,000 - $229,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.  

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.