Program Director

At Turion Space, we’re on a mission to secure Earth and expand humanity’s reach beyond it. We’re developing spacecraft for national security, in-space servicing, and orbital debris removal. As we prepare for upcoming launches and expand our portfolio of government and commercial programs, we’re looking for a Program Director to drive execution across program portfolios and ensure successful deliveries from concept through launch.

This role is based at our Irvine, California headquarters.

As a Program Director at Turion, you’ll be responsible for leading a portfolio of programs across their entire lifecycle from proposal, contract negotiations, execution, delivery, and closeout. You’ll work cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), mission operations, and leadership to manage scope, schedule, budget, and customer communications. A successful candidate will bring experience working with U.S. Government agencies (e.g., DoW, Space Force, NASA) and leading integrated teams. Specifically, this role is targeted in candidates with experience leading complex space programs in the GEO Space Domain Awareness (SpDA) industry and conducting Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO).

Key Responsibilities

Lead planning, execution, and delivery for a portfolio of spacecraft missions operating in LEO, MEO, GEO, or other orbital regimes against the cost, schedule, and technical baselines

Serve as the primary interface with government customers, cultivating relationships and representing Turion in all program-related matter

Build and manage program teams and external supplier relationships to meet contractual and technical requirements

Develop program execution strategies, master schedules, and detailed program plans, coordinating across all internal functions

Monitor and report program performance metrics, financials, risks, and opportunities to internal and external stakeholders

Support proposal development, business capture activities, and contract negotiations

Drive continuous alignment between customer goals and internal team execution, proactively identifying issues and mitigating risks

Delegate with programmatic authority while also being a doer who can produce on their own

Accountable for the portfolio Estimate at Completion (EAC), including Earned Value Management System (EVMS) methodologies

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

10+ years of experience in program management, mission management, or chief engineering, specifically in the SpDA industry or RPO missions

Deep technical understanding of spacecraft design executing RPO and Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) of Resident Space Objects (RSOs)

Proven success managing programs through all lifecycle phases: proposal, capture, planning, execution, delivery, and closeout

Experience managing prime programs with budgets of $100M+ and teams of 40+ full-time equivalents

Strong communication, leadership, mentorship, and stakeholder management skills

Proficient in Microsoft Project or similar scheduling tools

Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Ability to travel up to 25%

This role is expected to be on-site, hybrid work can be acceptable

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience working in a high paced startup environment

Extensive experience in early mission concept definition, full design cycle, AI&T, launch integration, and mission operations

Prior experience in a chief engineering role highly desired, with an emphasis in systems engineering, mission engineering, mission architect, or astrodynamics

Experience working on LEO or GEO surveillance, reconnaissance, or NEI programs

Experience in rapid prototyping and hardware fielding environments

Active TS/SCI clearance

Program Director Salary Range: $225,000 - $250,000 USD

Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.

ITAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.