Program Manager 1 Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 Program Manager to join our growing team. Reporting to the VP of Program Management, the Program Manager will work within a multidisciplinary team to propose and manage the execution of customer contracts. The candidate will be accountable for delivering highly reliable space systems to Government and Commercial customers. The Program Manager owns the customer relationship, organizes internal engineering, manages external suppliers & manufacturing, and tests activities. A successful Program Manager executes on-time, on-budget delivery of their projects. The end goal of every Program Manager is to deliver affordable, high-performance space systems at an escalated pace.
Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop executable cost, schedule, scope, and risk baselines in partnership with Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
• Maintain project schedules, risk analysis, procurement plans, subcontract management plans, project staffing plans, and budget (direct costs, subcontracts, travel, etc.)
• Participate in customer meetings to define and refine requirements
• Report program updates regularly to the executive team and our customers
• Track all internal and external deliverables, prepare and present formal and informal design and progress reviews
• Generate proposals/ scope of work based on customer requirements
• Work closely with members of their program team, technical peer teams, and program controllers to ensure our systems meet all requirements and achieve all milestones while staying within strict budgetary constraints

Required Qualification And Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or other complex technical program environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting programs and proposals for large contracts of various types (fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, time & material)
• Proven capability in developing and managing executable Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and cost baselines with cross-functional inputs.
• Working knowledge of DoD, or similar government contracting environments.
• Experience with post-award program execution, including responsibility for cost, schedule, and margin performance.
• Strong cost-schedule integration skills, including resource-loaded planning and BOE development.
• Ability to constructively challenge assumptions and enforce execution realism.
• Executive-level communication skills and experience preparing gate review materials.
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and risk management skills with attention to downstream execution impacts.
• High attention to detail and process discipline.
• U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Master's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading or supporting proposal execution activities and maturing proposals into executable program baselines.
• Concept-to-launch experience with one or more satellite missions.
• Experience with cost and budget-constrained programs.
• An active Secret or TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• Familiarity with non-traditional aerospace environments.
• Concept-to-launch experience with satellite missions.
• Understanding of satellites, space sensors, and ground systems.

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!
Salary Range
$140,000-$175,000 USD
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.