Senior Technical Program Manager

Interlune is a natural resources company based in Seattle, WA. We will provide resources from space to power a clean and sustainable economy on Earth and in space.

We are seeking a hands-on leader who wants to join our early-stage team and accelerate humanity’s progress toward an off-world future. Our team will combine expert knowledge of geological and lunar sciences, mechanical engineering, robotics, automation, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and advanced fabrication to build the infrastructure that will create an in-space economy. To join our small team, you must be agile, willing to learn, and able to take on multiple roles as needed.

This role is responsible for defining, building, and managing a portfolio of internal and external development projects to supply resource extraction, space transportation, mobility, power, communications, navigation, and other key functions to support the overall Interlune resource harvesting architecture.

Applicants from all industries are welcome, however, there is a strong requirement for experience with the development of space hardware and missions. Familiarity with and prior experience and growth potential with planetary science, and especially the Moon, are critical.

Responsibilities:

Manage a portfolio of R&D projects, suppliers, and partnerships that make up the overall Interlune architecture - including resource extraction, mobility, power, communications, navigation, and space transportation.
Decompose systems-level requirements into subsystem and component specifications, and develop verification plans (development, qualification, and acceptance) against these requirements.
Conduct market research and studies using RFI’s, RFQ’s, vendor visits, and technical reviews. Down-select candidate partners and negotiate terms.
Drive hardware development from concept development through the design, analysis, prototype, test, and manufacturing phases.
Manage in-house and external teams to drive execution through weekly engagement meetings to manage technical, schedule, cost, and quality. Conduct site visits as needed to confirm progress and evaluate readiness for production.
Establish and lead cross-functional product teams as needed to ensure communication between partners and the in-house technical team.
Drive consistency in our approach to vertical integration and capital investments by conducting make vs buy studies and financial analyses to support decision-making.
As needed, lead design reviews as system and subsystem designs are established and refined.
Develop baseline budgets and detailed plans/schedules to support integrated product development.
Support the development, maintenance, and implementation of a simple and streamlined set of company procedures, processes, forms, tools, and training related to systems engineering, design standards, production control, system safety, configuration management, and other areas.
Present findings and recommendations to management, and existing and potential customers.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
10+ years of experience designing and developing complex hardware to operate in an extreme environment.
5+ years of experience leading technical teams through the full product lifecycle, working with both in-house and supplier teams.
Practical hands-on experience building hardware and software.
Highly knowledgeable about the aerospace and related industry supply chain, with working knowledge of capabilities and limitations.
Highly organized leader with a demonstrated track record of resourcefulness, strong business acumen, and bias for action.
Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.
Strong negotiation skills.
Ability to work both individually and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
Attention to detail and aspiration for technical excellence.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering, or related technical subject area.
Highly knowledgeable of the industrial base, and demonstrated ability in supplier management
Basic familiarity with the space environment and the challenges with operating in extreme environments.
Experience working on an in-space mission, preferably on a planetary mission with surface operations.
Working knowledge of Mining Engineering.

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Interlune is seeking to hire highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals who are interested in focusing on creating our off-world future. Interlune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Don’t meet every requirement? If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet all of the job requirements, we encourage you to apply and explain why the experiences you do have are a suitable substitute. We’d hate to miss out on the perfect candidate for this or other roles.

Compensation range for on site WA state employees is:

Target Levels:

Level 4 Range: $147,700 - $221,600

Benefits:

Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, and other benefits

Paid Time Off: Flexible PTO policy with paid company holidays.

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If interested, send email expressing interest with attached resume to:

careers@interlune.space

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