About This Role
Varda supports a wide range of customers from pharmaceutical companies creating new products in microgravity, to government agencies testing new capabilities through hypersonic flight. As a member of the mission management team, you will be responsible for ensuring we deliver on our promises. As a Mission Manager, you will be the technical and programmatic interface for our customers and will shepherd missions from cradle to grave -- from before a contract is signed, through development, integration, launch, operations, and recovery of our customers flown assets. You will work cross functionally throughout the company to unblock issues for a particular customer or mission and to align resources needed to meet mission objectives.
You will coordinate with Varda personnel to deliver all phases of mission planning, integration, testing, and verification.
This is a full-time, exempt position located in our El Segundo headquarters.
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary technical and programmatic point of contact for our customers, helping to resolve issues, negotiate requirements and contract changes, communicate status and risks, and ensure a positive outcome for all parties.
Lead programmatic execution of customer missions from prior to contract signature through development, integration, launch, operations, and recovery of our customers flown assets.
Collaborate across the company (e.g. engineering, regulatory, sales, payloads) to understand status and changes that may impact customer success and work to mitigate issues.
Lead major customer reviews and deliverables, coordinating cross functionally to plan for, develop and deliver high quality materials and briefings.
Support or lead, depending on the customer, development and verification of technical interface control documents.
Support our Sales team with proposal efforts to ensure new projects are appropriately scoped and aligned with strategic company vision, and that contracts are executable.
Collaborate with engineering groups to understand vehicle readiness and how changes impact requirements, vehicle risk, CONOPs, and flight dates.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelors degree or higher in an engineering or science discipline
4+ years of Program or Project Management experience (6+ years for Senior role)
Strong written and verbal communication
Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution and leadership skills
Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time
Preferred Skills and Experience
Experience with spacecraft mission design, development, integration and test, launch and/or operations.
Experience with US Government contracts
Active security clearance (TS, TS//SCI or S) or willingness to seek a clearance
Full hardware project lifecycle experience (cradle-to-grave), preferably spacecraft
Pay Range
Salary range:
Mission Manager - $120,000 - $170,000/per year
Senior Mission Manager - $160,000 - $200,000/per year
This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Offer compensation also includes the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.