Senior Program Manager

The Mission

Space is the infrastructure layer for humanity’s next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the door, true economic transformation requires orbital logistics that are as accessible and reliable as commercial aviation. At Lux Aeterna, we’re building that future by developing the first fully reusable satellite platform built for reliable reentry, recovery, and rapid redeployment, transforming space from a one-way street into a two-way highway for innovation and commerce.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Program Manager to take end-to-end ownership of the plan that gets Delphi-1 to the pad. This role owns program execution in the lead-up to launch — the integrated master schedule, cross-team execution, risk management, and vendor and partner delivery — making sure the engineering and operations organization is pointed at the right work in the right order.

You are the person keeping Delphi-1 on schedule: owning the integrated plan, driving cross-functional execution, surfacing risk early, and closing decisions so the program moves. As the program scales, you build out the program management function that will run Delphi and follow-on programs.

This is the seat for someone who wants real ownership early, who is energized by the discipline of program execution on a first-of-kind hardware program, and who wants to grow into the person responsible for how Lux Aeterna plans and delivers its missions.

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Own a full reusable-spacecraft program plan from integrated schedule through launch readiness, partner delivery, and hand-off

• Build Lux Aeterna’s program management function from the ground up: cadence, risk processes, and the tooling that keeps the program honest

• Work directly with the founders and technical leadership to shape how Lux Aeterna executes its programs

• Grow into the program management leader for the Delphi platform and follow-on programs

Why Lux Aeterna?

• Pioneering Technology: We’re developing the first reusable satellite platform with controlled return capability, fundamentally transforming space from a one-way journey to a two-way highway

• Real Impact: Your work will enable new industries in space manufacturing, research, and logistics while pioneering sustainable space infrastructure

• Speed & Autonomy: We maintain parallel hardware development streams and empower engineers to innovate rapidly while upholding rigorous aerospace standards

• World-Class Team: Work alongside experts from leading aerospace companies and research institutions, building technology that will reshape humanity’s access to space

The Role

You are the single accountable owner for whether the program executes on plan and the vehicle is ready to fly.

• Own the Delphi-1 integrated master schedule, critical path, and external partner deliverables

• Run the program cadence, risk management, and other programmatic processes. Surface issues early and close decisions

• Translate engineering trades, customer ICDs, and FAA/range submittals into actions with owners and exit criteria; run vendor programs end-to-end and keep budget, headcount, and cost-to-complete visible

• Drive cross-functional execution across GNC, FSW, GSW, Avionics, and operations — getting senior engineers to commit, sequence, and deliver

• Own program-level reporting: status, risk, and cost-to-complete that leadership and partners actually trust

• Drive the program toward Flight Readiness and Mission Readiness Reviews, owning entrance criteria and action closure

• Manage relationships and deliverables with external partners and vendors, including launch, ground-network, and recovery partners

• Build the lightweight systems and processes that let the program scale, and stand up the program management function for follow-on work

Required Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical field (or equivalent practical experience)

• 7+ years in aerospace or other high-stakes hardware programs, with a strong core of program/project management experience

• Demonstrated ownership of an integrated master schedule on a flight or comparable hardware program (satellite, launch vehicle, aircraft, missile, or critical infrastructure)

• Track record of running cross-functional teams without formal authority and getting senior engineers to commit and deliver

• Strong technical fluency. Comfortable reading ICDs, requirements, and engineering analyses, and pushing back when the plan and the physics disagree

• Demonstrated ownership of program risk management, vendor programs, and cost-to-complete

• Excellent written communication: schedules, status, risk, and exec-level reporting that people actually trust

• High composure under pressure and sound judgment with incomplete information

• Comfort with ambiguity and bias toward action over analysis paralysis

• Ability to operate effectively in fast build-test-iterate environments with high ownership and minimal supervision

Desired Experience

• Prior program/project management on an orbital, launch, or reentry program

• Experience standing up program management processes and tooling from zero on a new program

• Working knowledge of FAA Part 450, range safety, and related aerospace safety standards (SSCMAN 91-710, AFSPCMAN, NASA STD)

• Experience managing launch, ground-segment, or recovery partners and vendors (e.g., KSAT, SpaceX, or equivalent)

• Familiarity with hardware development lifecycles, integration and test campaigns, and review gates (PDR/CDR/FRR/MRR)

• Early-stage startup or new-program experience, especially in hardware or deep-tech companies

• Comfort building lightweight systems and processes that scale, without over-engineering them

• Military, test, or operations background welcome in place of or alongside an engineering degree

Location & Work

We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in-person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it. This role will include travel to vendor sites, partner facilities, and the launch site in the run-up to flight.

Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.

Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.