Program Manager, National Security Space

Position Summary

Do you have a passion for space and a drive to make an impact in national defense? We’re seeking a proven Program Manager (PM) to engage sponsors and drive mission success across the expanding space portfolio for the Space Readiness, Operations, and Intelligence Program Area of the National Security Space Mission Area (NSSMA). This role will require communication and coordination across all of the program areas within the NSSMA.

The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in space operations, operational test and training, threat understanding and anticipation, and space war fighting command and control, enabling APL to provide trusted technical leadership and operational excellence to our government partners. They will have held technical and programmatic leadership positions within or in close collaboration with organizations such as the Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO), Advanced Kill Chains, Space‑Cyber initiatives, Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranches, Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SpRCO), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), DARPA, STARCOM, or comparable defense and intelligence agencies.

Note:

this position will require the incumbent to occasionally work out of Chantilly, VA.

• Manage and grow a high‑performing team that works effectively with sponsors to address their critical challenges.
• Develop a vision and strategy that promotes sponsor relationships and collaboration with industry and analytical partners.
• Lead sponsor reviews and provide execution oversight across technical performance, cost, schedule, risk, and security.

• Anticipate future mission needs and define APL’s role in enabling space intelligence and war fighting capabilities and advancing mission assurance.
• Strengthen the APL role as a trusted agent for achieving sponsor space intelligence and war fighting goals.
• Leverage APL’s core strengths in systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and prototyping.
• Champion Independent Research and Development (IRaD) projects relevant for space test, training and operations.

• Collaborate across the APL enterprise, working with Branch and Group Supervisors to assign project leadership.
• Mentor project managers and technical leads to ensure successful, on‑time, and on‑budget delivery of program outcomes.

• Engage with Program Area leadership to identify additional space readiness, operations, and intelligence in the development towards enabling space superiority.
• Identify and pursue cross‑cutting innovations based on insight from sponsors and related efforts.
• Contribute to internal research and development (IRAD) and align priorities with mission area strategy to advance national space capabilities.

• Decision Superiority – Deliver machine‑enabled predictive capabilities, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics that give the U.S. strategic and tactical advantages.
• Multi‑Domain Kill Webs – Enable integrated, cross‑domain sensor‑to‑shooter architectures and accelerate the F2T2EA
  cycle for space‑enabled operations.
• Combat‑Ready Space Capabilities – Drive prototyping, T&E, and spaceflight demonstrations to strengthen space war fighting resilience and readiness.
• Threat Understanding & Anticipation – Apply engineering assessments and emulation to replicate adversary threats, enhancing the U.S.’s ability to anticipate and counter space‑based challenges.
• Space Warfighting Brain Trust – Advance technical education and training within APL and support sponsor‑side development through embedded engineering expertise and mission immersion.

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 5+ years of team leadership.
• Experience in technical program development.
• Demonstrated success in sponsor engagement and project management.
• The ability to occasionally travel to and work in Chantilly, VA.
• An active Top Secret clearance and the ability to obtain TS/SCI level clearance. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.

• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a related field.
• 5+ years…