Senior Program Manager, Space Systems Acquisition
Listed on 2026-06-04
-
Engineering
Systems Engineer, Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics
Senior Program Manager, Space Systems Acquisition
Requisition Number: 19915
Contract Type:
Permanent
Location(s):
McLean, VA, US
Senior Program Manager, Space Systems Acquisition
ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
As the Senior Program Manager, Space Systems Acquisition, your role provides critical leadership and technical support by evaluating new technology, creating requirements for new satellites, developing the designs of SES’s spacecraft and communications architectures, and leading the satellite manufacturers through our procurement process for these new systems.
This role performs extensive spacecraft system and payload architecture analysis to enable SES’s existing and new service types and transforms the analysis results into designs of new satellite systems. The position requires a thorough understanding of space system technical design attributes and the ability to perform design trades that will have a significant effect on the overall benefit to SES. In addition, you must be able to deliver a high degree of technical innovation to constantly push SES toward new capabilities, higher efficiency, and better cost-effectiveness.
The decisions and recommendations that you make will directly drive the technical excellence of SES’s space systems and therefore our competitiveness in the marketplace.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULTS AREAS
- Collaborate with teams of satellite engineers to manage SES new satellite procurement life cycle. Work closely with Fleet Advacement, Innovation and R&D and Spectrum team to help develop satellite fleet planning, deployment strategies and innovative satellite systems solutions.
- Lead the generation of Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Proposal (RFP) and evaluate responses from multiple bidders.
- Lead the generation of contract documents and negotiation with satellite manufacturers technical requirements, test plan, and project plan.
- Work closely with program office during the execution of the program to ensure the design and manufacturing meets the specifications as per contractual agreement.
- Develop and maintain long term partnership with technology partners from the space industry to keep the right perspective to the SES’ systems in a continuously evolving environment.
- For new SES satellites in negotiation, monitor program schedule progress, risks, and opportunities.
- Develop accurate presentations and reports to support internal management reviews.
- Collaboratively develop conceptual designs of SES’s new satellites and new satellite systems and perform technical analyses to support these new designs, optimizing the communications payload on each satellite and the overall space system.
COMPETENCIES
- Self-Starter with a high level of personal accountability and high sense of urgency for priority projects
- Work experience with satellite manufacturers
- Demonstrated experience in satellite industrial process and the overall space segment ecosystem (satellite manufacturers, subcontractors, launch service providers…)
- Demonstrated project management and leadership capabilities with focus on execution and implementation
- Business savvy, excellent negotiation, communication and organizational
- Good strategic skills, with the ability to choose the right course of action and make agile changes when needed
- Highly collaborative individual, able to build relationships internal and external to SES across all levels and functions of the organization
- Execution orientated with the ability to deliver results despite a complex business environment: able to drive initiatives, handle schedule/criticality
- Passionate individual with the energy to continuously sustain and accompany innovation and to understand change
- A willingness to be self-critical, self-aware, continuously improve and implement enhancements from lessons learned
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical/Telecommunication/Aerospace/Electronic Engineering
- At least ten years of experience in the Telecommunications or Satellite industry
- Proven experience in spacecraft payload design and evaluation.
- Proven spacecraft antenna design and evaluation required. Experience in using TICRA Tools, SATSOFT or…
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