Senior Program Manager, National Security Programs

LeoLabs, Inc.

$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Aerospace, Physical Sciences, or related field
  • 8+ years managing technical programs and federal contracts
  • Success leading cross-functional teams in complex technical environments
  • Experience with DoD or Intelligence Community programs
  • Strong understanding of program management principles and risk management
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

  • Lead execution of programs as primary interface to customers
  • Manage program scope, schedule, cost, and performance
  • Develop integrated program plans and reports
  • Track performance against technical and financial objectives
  • Identify and mitigate program risks and issues
  • Coordinate milestone reviews and operational transitions
  • Build trusted relationships with customers to enhance engagement

Benefits

  • Flexible remote/hybrid work opportunities
  • Chance to work on impactful missions
  • Unlimited paid time off for most roles
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Access to cutting-edge space operations and defense innovation
Full Job Description
LeoLabs is seeking a Sr Program Manager, National Security Programs to lead mission critical programs supporting Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Space Superiority, Missile Warning, and other national security initiatives for U.S. Government and commercial customers.

This role serves as a key customer-facing leader, responsible for delivering complex radar and mission capability programs while building trusted relationships with customer stakeholders and supporting continued mission expansion.

The Sr Program Manager will oversee program execution end-to-end, including contract delivery, customer engagement, cross-functional coordination, and overall program performance to ensure successful delivery of technical, operational, and business objectives.

This individual will work closely with Radar Systems Engineering, Mission Architecture, Product, Business Development, and Operations to ensure successful execution of current programs while supporting future mission opportunities.

This role offers strong growth potential into broader portfolio leadership as LeoLabs expands its U.S. Government business.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Execution
  • Lead day-to-day execution of assigned programs as primary interface to customer stakeholders
  • Manage program scope, schedule, cost, performance, risks, dependencies, and contractual deliverables
  • Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, and executive-level reporting
  • Track performance against technical, financial, and contractual objectives
  • Identify and mitigate risks while driving resolution of program issues
  • Support contract administration, change management, and compliance requirements
  • Coordinate milestone reviews, demonstrations, and operational transitions

Customer Engagement
  • Serve as primary customer-facing program lead across government and commercial stakeholders
  • Build and maintain trusted customer relationships throughout program execution
  • Lead program reviews, technical interchange meetings, and executive briefings
  • Translate customer mission needs into actionable program priorities
  • Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and responsiveness to evolving requirements

Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Coordinate execution across engineering, product, operations, and business functions, including:
    • Radar Systems Engineering
    • Software Engineering
    • Product Management
    • Mission Architecture
    • Modeling & Simulation
    • Operations
    • Business Development
    • Program Controls
  • Drive alignment across technical and operational teams to ensure successful delivery

Strategic Growth
  • Partner with Business Development and Capture teams on follow-on opportunities and contract growth
  • Support proposal development, customer presentations, and solution shaping
  • Provide customer and market insights to Engineering, Product, and Executive teams
  • Contribute to account strategy and long-term mission area growth
  • Represent LeoLabs at customer engagements and industry events as appropriate


Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Aerospace, Physical Sciences, or related field
  • 8+ years of experience managing technical programs, customer-facing initiatives, or federal contracts
  • Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in complex technical environments
  • Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, aerospace, space, or defense programs
  • Strong understanding of program management principles, lifecycle execution, and risk management
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, or similar customers
  • Familiarity with SDA, SSA, space operations, radar systems, or missile warning missions
  • Experience supporting capture, proposals, or customer growth initiatives
  • PMP certification or equivalent credential
  • Experience with cost-reimbursable, fixed-price, and time-and-materials contracts
  • Active U.S. security clearance
  • Master's degree in a relevant field
  • Existing relationships within the national security space community


Work Location

Washington, D.C. metropolitan area preferred.
Periodic travel to customer sites, LeoLabs offices, and industry events is required.

Growth Opportunity

As LeoLabs expands its national security mission portfolio, this role has the potential to evolve beyond individual program execution into portfolio leadership and broader mission ownership.

High-performing candidates may take on responsibility for multiple programs, customer portfolios, and strategic growth initiatives, with increasing leadership over teams supporting mission delivery and customer success.

This role provides a clear pathway toward Director-level leadership, with expanded responsibility for both program execution and mission growth.

Perks and Benefits
  • Global workforce: flexible remote/hybrid opportunities
  • Work on complex, meaningful missions with real-world impact
  • Unlimited paid time off for most roles
  • Competitive salary and equity packages
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Access to the forefront of commercial space operations and defense innovation

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