Senior Program Manager, Secure Space Data Systems

About the role

Muon Space seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead the development, demonstration, and productization of secure data-handling capabilities for our satellite platforms. This work directly expands the set of national-security missions Muon can pursue and execute — the Program Manager owns both the program's execution and its transition into active proposals and funded flight programs.

This is a hands-on role at the intersection of hardware development, embedded firmware, security engineering, and government mission capture. It is a technical program management position: the right candidate contributes directly to the engineering — architecture, design, analysis, and test — as a working member of the team, not just its coordinator. The Program Manager is the single accountable owner for cost, schedule, and technical performance across the program's parallel swimlanes: cryptographic hardware carrier development, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testbed build-out, end-to-end encrypted data-path demonstration (ground-to-flight and flight-to-ground), and proposal-ready design artifacts for upcoming government opportunities. Because the team is small and senior, the PM does their own scheduling, cost tracking, and program control — there is no supporting program office.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities

Program Execution

Own the integrated master schedule, cost baseline, and risk register for the program

Drive the program through design reviews, hardware build and integration, test campaigns, and demonstration milestones — meeting all internal and customer commitments

Run the weekly program cadence; make decisions with incomplete information at startup pace and escalate crisply when needed

Security and Compliance

Own the program's security and compliance posture, including controlled-material handling and coordination with government security processes and certification requirements

Ensure all execution complies with ITAR/EAR export controls and U.S.-only performance requirements

Technical Contribution and Cross-Functional Leadership

Contribute directly to the engineering and design of the system — architecture and trade studies, requirements development, design analysis, and hands-on support of integration and test

Partner closely with the Mission Manager, Chief Engineer, and cross-disciplinary technical leads to drive technical decision-making

Own configuration control and drive resolution of cross-functional issues quickly, escalating to program leadership when needed

Capture and Proposal Support

Support active proposal and capture efforts with technical artifacts and cost and schedule inputs, without derailing baseline execution

Partner with Business Development, Capture, and Product teams on transitioning the capability into funded flight programs

Represent the program in customer and partner technical exchanges

Required Qualifications

6+ years of professional experience in program management of complex technical system development spanning hardware and software

5+ years of hands-on engineering experience (electrical, embedded systems, mechanical, RF/communications, or similar), with the ability and desire to contribute directly to design, analysis, and test while leading the program

Direct experience with space, defense, or aerospace programs that handle CUI or classified data

Demonstrated ownership of a board- or box-level hardware development effort through design reviews to a working, tested product

Experience leading testbed, HITL, or ground-segment development and running structured verification or demonstration campaigns

Working understanding of secure communications concepts — Type 1 encryption, Red/Black separation, key management — and their program-level implications (certification timelines, custody requirements, cleared-personnel constraints)

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance

U.S. Citizenship required (program is ITAR-restricted)

Excellent written communication skills — you will author or approve design review packages, test plans and results, and customer-facing technical artifacts

Preferred Qualifications

Active Secret or TS/SCI clearance

Prior experience integrating NSA Type 1 cryptographic units (e.g., HAIPE-class devices) or managing COMSEC/CCI on a flight program

Direct experience working with SDA, NRO, USSF Space Systems Command, or similar customer offices

Familiarity with embedded firmware and FPGA development lifecycles — board bring-up, driver development, DITL testing

Experience running IR&D or capability-development programs whose artifacts feed concurrent proposals and captures

Experience supporting classified proposal development and color-team reviews

PMP certification or equivalent program management credentials

Salary

The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $208,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.