Qualifications
Responsibilities
Benefits
Job Posting Title:
Program Manager----
Hiring Department:
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics----
Position Open To:
All Applicants----
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40----
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA----
Earliest Start Date:
Immediately----
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue----
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS----
Job Details:
General NotesAbout the SDA TAP Lab Texas
The Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab Texas is a U.S. Space Force initiative hosted at the University of Texas at Austin and funded by a $9.27 million grant from the Texas Space Commission. The lab accelerates the delivery of space battle management software to operational units by transforming academic and commercial research into mission-ready capabilities through a structuredaccelerator programsimilar to SDA TAP Lab in Colorado Springs (see sdataplab.org).
The lab pioneers next-generation defenses for the nation's critical space architecture, integrating AI, astrodynamics, cyber-informed engineering (CIE), and decision intelligence. TheGaiaVerseGaiaGraph platform anchors the decision intelligence architecture, providing explainable, real-time analytics across space and cyberspace domains. TAP Lab Texas operates in close coordination with U.S. Space Force System Delta 85, Task Force-Futures, SSIO, AFRL, and other mission partners.
The Program Manager (PM) is the day-to-day operations officer of the SDA TAP Lab Texas, working in close, seamless partnership with 64 and under the technical direction of 64 Prof. Moriba Jah, the Principal Investigator and Director of TAP Lab Texas. The PM serves as the hub through which cohorts, USSF mission partners, university administration, and external stakeholders connect, translating the PI 27s strategic and technical vision into executable operational plans. The PM is accountable for cost, schedule, and performance delivery across all grant-funded activities, and is the first point of contact for cohort teams as they prototype, integrate, andvalidatetheir tools and applications within the lab environment.
This role requires a disciplined project-management professional who canoperatewith minimal friction alongside a technically demanding PI, receive and execute on technical direction withouta0requiring extensive re-explanation, and represent the lab 27s mission credibly to both DoD leadership and academic innovators. Deep familiarity with federally funded research administration, a collaborative and proactive working style, and the flexibility to travel as mission requirements dictate are essential.
Working Relationship with the PI/Director
The PM reports directly to Prof. Moriba Jah, who serves concurrently as Principal Investigator and Director of SDA TAP Lab Texas. This dual role means the PI/Director sets both the scientific and technical vision and the programmatic priorities for the lab. The PM is the operational complement to that leadership 64 converting direction into schedules, actions, and outcomes 64 and must be able to receive, internalize, and execute technical guidance with minimalhand-holding.
The ideal candidate functions as a trusted operational partner 64 proactive, technically literate, and deeply aligned with the PI/Director 27s mission priorities. Effective candidates will:
Internalize and operationalize the PI/Director 27s technical direction without requiring re-explanation of underlying scientific rationale.
Anticipate the PI/Director 27s needs, surface emerging issues before they escalate, and bring proposed solutions rather than problems alone.
Represent the PI/Director 27s technical and programmatic positions accurately and confidently to cohort teams, USSF partners, and UT Austin administration.
Maintain a seamless operational cadence with the PI/Director through regular briefings, shared dashboards, and a mutual commitment to mission success over bureaucratic friction.
Exercise independent judgment on day-to-day operational matters within the boundaries set by the PI/Director, escalating strategic or technical decisions appropriately.
Day-to-Day Operations & Cohort Integration
Serve as the resident operations officer for TAP Lab Texas,maintainingdaily situational awareness of all active cohort activities, resources, and timelines.
Sit with cohort teams during sprint cycles tofacilitatethe integration of their tools, applications, and datasets into the SDA TAP Lab Texas infrastructure and data environment.
Coordinate access to lab computational resources, secure data feeds, andGaiaGraphintegration pipelines on behalf of cohort teams.
Manage onboarding and off-boarding of cohort participants, including data-sharing agreements, lab access, and orientation to USSF mission context.
Serve as the primary operational interface between cohort teams and TAPLabtechnical leads, ensuring that technical direction from the PI/Director is clearly communicated, understood, and executed by cohort participants.
Cost / Schedule / Performance Management
Own the integrated master schedule (IMS) for all TAP Lab Texas activities, tracking milestones across cohort cycles, infrastructure buildout, and reporting obligations.
Monitor grant expenditures against the approved budget, coordinate with UT Austin Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) on financialreporting, andproactively flag variances and risks to the PI/Director to enablea0timelycourse correction.
Prepare and deliver periodic programmatic and financial status reports to the Texas Space Commission, USSF mission partners, and UTAustinleadership.
Maintain risk registers and mitigation plans; proactively escalate issues that threaten cost, schedule, or performance baselines.
Ensure deliverablescomply withTSC grant terms, UT Austin sponsored project policies, and applicable federal regulations (2 CFR Part 200, DoD flow-down clauses).
Stakeholder Coordination & Liaison
Serve as the primary liaison to U.S. Space Force System Delta 85 and the SDA TAP Lab national program officelocatedin Colorado Springs, CO (sdataplab.org).
Coordinate with the SDA TAP Lab Maui node on shared cohort resources, joint activities, and cross-site programmatic alignment.
Represent TAP Lab Texas at USSF headquarters meetings, program reviews, and coordination sessions as directed by the PI/Director.
Cultivate andmaintainproductive relationships with DoD program officers, AFRL, AFWERX/SpaceWERX, DIU, and other innovation ecosystem partners.
Interface with UT Austin's Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of Research, and legal/contracts offices on sub-award, teaming, and compliance matters.
Technology Transition & Reporting
Track the technology readiness levels (TRLs) and transition status of cohort solutions,maintainingan up-to-date capability mapping aligned to USSF mission threads.
Support the PI andGaiaVerseGaiaGraph team in benchmarking cohort performance anda0identifyinga0gapsa0relativea0to operational priorities.
Contribute to after-action reports, cohort outcome summaries, and transition packagessubmittedto TSC and USSF mission partners.
Support preparation of presentations, white papers, and briefings for DoD audiences under the direction of the PI/Director and in coordination with JDIG staff.
Travel
Travel as mission requirements demand to:
U.S. Space Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO 64 program reviews, partner coordination, and SDA TAP Lab national program office meetings.
SDA TAP Lab Maui node 64 cross-site coordination and joint cohort activities.
Other locations asrequiredfor conferences, technology demonstrations, or stakeholder engagement.
Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.
Minimum five (5) years of experience in program/project management, research administration, or a related role within a federally sponsored research or DoD program environment.
Demonstrated experience managing cost, schedule, and performance for multi-year, multi-stakeholder programs (>$1M annual budget).
Familiarity with federal grant regulations (2 CFR Part 200) and sponsored project administration processes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear briefings and reports for both technical and executive audiences.
Proficiencyin project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent) and standard office productivity software.
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain andmaintaina DoD security clearance.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically asrequired(estimated 15 625%a0travel).
Ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. security clearancea0required.
Master's degree or PMP / PMI-ACP certification.
Prior experience working with or within the U.S. Space Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, DoD innovation hubs (AFWERX,SpaceWERX, DIU), or a university-affiliated defense research center.
Familiarity with Space Domain Awareness, astrodynamics, cybersecurity, or AI/ML applications in defense contexts.
Experience with technology accelerator or cohort-based R&D programs.
Active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher).
Experience with sub-award management, teaming agreements, and SBIR/STTR program administration.
Mission Orientation: deep commitment to national security, space sustainability, and the U.S. Space Force mission.
Operational D
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