Project Manager - Space and Airborne

The Aerospace Corporation’s Experiment Lab, xLab, develops prototypes, instruments, pathfinders, and demonstration systems to address our customers’ hardest problems at the speed of need. We engage with our customers to conceptualize innovative solutions and deliver impactful products for ground and space and everything in between. We are looking for engineers with a passion for design, a commitment to teamwork and a desire to help xLab make a difference to today’s challenges.  

The Project Manager is responsible for the planning and execution of hardware build projects. Leads and works with multi-functional, cross-organizational teams to design, build, test and operate complex space science sensors and small satellite systems. Role may also include managing of ground-based or airborne test systems.  Requires innovative problem-solving abilities as well as strong team building and leadership skills. Additional duties include interfacing with program office and customer personnel, managing new business/proposals and working with program offices, labs and new business personnel in the development of program plans and pricing for new business activity.  

Work Model:  This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines regular onsite work and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• As part of a project leadership team, which includes the project Principal Investigator and Project's Systems Engineer, the Project Manager is responsible for the timely delivery of specific project deliverables in accordance with project requirements (technical, cost & schedule) 

• Manage multiple projects through all phases of development: Proposal, Concept, Requirements, Design, Build, Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T), Delivery, Launch, Post Launch, Etc. 

• Work with project teams to ensure work is performed in accordance with mission/project requirements, planned budgets, schedules and program risk posture 

• Manage road-blocks, work-arounds and unexpected events on projects to maintain optimal technical, cost and schedule performance 

• Create and maintain strong working relationships and lines of communication with both internal/external customers and other team member organizations. 

• Work with assigned teams to develop project cost and schedule plans for new business proposals; work with Aerospace estimating and contracts teams to ensure compliant submission of new business proposals. 

What You Need to be Successful – Project Manager 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in an applicable discipline 

• Eight or more years of increasingly responsible, related professional experience, including experience in a hardware engineering project management/project leadership role 

• Experience in team leadership, project planning and project execution 

• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required) 

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance 

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Master’s degree from an accredited program in an applicable discipline 

• Direct project management experience 

• Spaceflight hardware experience in project/product team leadership and execution 

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholder and external customers 

• Knowledge and understanding of procurement, property and business practices desirable 

• Experience with Microsoft Project or other project management tools desirable