VP of Spacecraft Engineering

VP Spacecraft Engineering / Program Director

Role Overview

Lead a new spacecraft development program as VP Spacecraft Engineering / Program Director, running in parallel to the company's existing vehicle programs. This is a rare opportunity to own a major, multi-phase US Government space program from the ground up, working closely with the CTO and executive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Own a funded initial phase (single-digit millions USD) with a clear mandate to turn an existing high-level concept and proposal into a detailed, credible technical architecture and execution plan
• Technical Delivery: Deliver a robust set of designs, analyses, and validation activities within an aggressive 6–12 month window
• Team Building: Build and lead a dedicated, largely self-contained program team including systems engineering, spacecraft design, mission/operations engineering, and supporting disciplines for complex orbital missions under US Government oversight
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary technical and program interface to US Government stakeholders (DoD and related advanced research organizations), ensuring clear communication of technical approach, risks, and mitigations, and successful delivery against phase-gate milestones
• Program Structure: Establish program structure, processes, and governance appropriate for a major government contract within a lean, startup-style organization
• Technical Alignment: Work hand-in-hand with the CTO to ensure technical alignment with the company's broader architecture and reusable-spacecraft strategy, while maintaining necessary program compartmentalization

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 15+ years of senior-level experience in space or aerospace engineering with focus on spacecraft systems
• Track Record: Proven experience as a Program Manager, Program Director, VP, or Chief Engineer leading large, complex spacecraft or space-related programs
• Government Programs: Direct experience delivering US Government space programs (DoD, service branches, or advanced research agencies), including phase-based milestone-driven contracts and high technical risk R&D or demonstrator missions
• Mission Development: Demonstrated ability to take concept-level or proposal-stage missions and drive them through architecture definition, systems engineering and design maturation, and validation planning under tight schedules
• Technical Skills: Deep understanding of spacecraft systems engineering and mission design (rendezvous, proximity operations, capture/handling, return/re-entry concepts, or comparable complex mission profiles)
• Leadership Skills: Strong program leadership including team building, budgeting, resource planning, risk management, and excellent stakeholder communication
• Security: US citizenship required; active or recently active DoD security clearance (Secret or above) strongly preferred; minimum eligibility to obtain and maintain such clearance
• Work Style: Comfortable operating in a startup environment using a mix of core employees and contractors with a bias for action and delivery

Nice-to-Haves

• Active DoD security clearance
• Experience with reusable spacecraft or in-space logistics
• Previous startup or fast-growing company experience