Program Manager

The Program Manager owns execution for a single mission or small constellation, leading cross‑functional teams through the full lifecycle from proposal and design through build, test, launch, and operations. The PM maintains the contract baseline, manages customer expectations, and makes day‑to‑day tradeoffs to deliver on scope, schedule, and cost. This role requires hands‑on leadership, strong technical fluency, and the ability to prove experience across real‑world program events and gate reviews.

This role will be fully on-site in our Greenwood Village, Colorado office.

Key Responsibilities
Classified Program Leadership

Strong experience in understanding security governance and documentation for execution on a program
Clearly demonstrates the ability to provide guidance and processes for managing access and handling data transfers
Ability to proactively identify security concerns in non-York facilities for testing and integration
Ability to work with the security team to protect the program and company from security violations

Strong Contract Acumen

Clear experience in managing customer expectations on FFP (Firm Fixed Price) contracts with the USG
Consistently managing contract updates for additional scope requests and maintaining program milestone payments
Leveraging the contractual documents to facilitate difficult discussions with the customer that protect the program from unnecessary scope growth
Manage customer expectations through clear, proactive communication and evidence‑based options when issues arise

Clear Executive Communication

Communicate crisply with York executives on strategy/execution
Communicate clearly with customer leadership on:

Agreements and decisions
Addressing vague requirement language
Deliverable expectations
Payment criteria on all milestones

Clearly defined deadlines and priorities for all key program suppliers

Experience in working strategically with small company executive leadership for beneficial solutions

Programmatic and Technical Breadth and Depth

Lead full lifecycle execution for a single mission or small constellation, managing scope, schedule, budget, risks, and deliverables
Execute key lifecycle events: SRR, PDR, CDR, PSR, and O&S; lead recovery plans for resets/redesigns and NRE
Own the FFP baseline: track performance to plan, manage changes for added scope/revenue, and leverage contract documents in difficult customer conversations
Experience maturing technology from TRL4→TRL7/9 and integrating new payload capabilities
Drive agile, data‑driven program rhythms (dashboards, metrics) to maintain program health and de‑risk execution early

Driving Internal Progress in Matrixed Organization

Coordinate integrated teams (engineering, production, supply chain, finance, operations) and influence progress without relying on a large support org
Driven to ensure the ball won’t drop – experience in working outside your swim lane or standard work background
Ability to find innovative and low cost solutions to internal issues as they arise across the life of the program

This role will not have direct reports.

Qualifications
Required for the Role

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical discipline, or related field.
5+ years leading complex hardware/software programs; proven product/system delivery.
Prior experience in cleared environments and TS/SCI eligibility.
Ability to work full‑time onsite in Greenwood Village, CO.

Preferred for the Role

Experience in high-autonomy, high-complexity environments (aircraft/aerospace manufacturing, oil & gas operations, high-reliability industrial systems).
Experience in agile methodologies applied to hardware development (Scrum, SAFe).
Master’s degree in engineering or management.
Experience in high-growth startup environments.