Full-Time

Senior Program Manager

Sphinx Defense

Sphinx Defense

11-50 employees

Develops software for national security solutions

Compensation Overview

$275k - $312k/yr

+ Equity Ownership + Profit Sharing + 401(k) Contribution

No H1B Sponsorship

Colorado Springs, CO, USA + 2 more

More locations: Chantilly, VA, USA | El Segundo, CA, USA

In Person

Up to 25% travel to client sites and company events.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Agile
Forecasting
Risk Management

Get referred to Sphinx Defense

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • 15+ years Program Management and/or technical leadership experience on software/software-intensive engineering projects (Aerospace industry a plus)
  • Demonstrable experience leading software engineering programs/teams
  • Proven ability to multi-task large scale projects and work cross-functionally with all levels
  • Excellent communication, documentation, and facilitation skills
  • A high level of project management skills to ensure prioritization of key deliverables and competing priorities (scheduling, budgeting, forecasting, conflict resolution, problem solving)
  • Experience supporting the development of project standards, templates, and norms to ensure efficiency and delivery.
  • Experience working with and on cross-functional agile development efforts for full lifecycle projects (Startup, design, development, integration and delivery)
  • Experience with DoD space-ground system acquisition efforts
  • Experience with Earned Value Management for Software programs (Agile EV M techniques a plus)
  • Made enough mistakes and booked enough wins to know how to manage issues, risk and development challenges
  • The ability to see through the noise to the most critical problems in executing projects
  • Understanding of DoD and command and control, mission planning, and common system development techniques
  • Hold an active Secret clearance and be eligible to obtain and maintain TS/SCI access.
Responsibilities
  • Profit & Loss ownership. Managing and executing across all program functions (engineering, finance, business operations, supply chain, security) to ensure timely project delivery for a multi-year, multi-million dollar software program.
  • Partnering with the company leadership to ensure efficient management of project resources and deliverables (cost, schedule, staff, etc.)
  • Assisting the team and leadership in developing project plans, roadmaps, and project artifacts
  • Leading the creation and management of a contract management frameworks, including performance management tools
  • Ensuring the delivery of all contractually required deliverables
  • Representing Sphinx for contract negotiations, subcontractor oversight, program element integration and related PM functions directly with the USG and their representatives
  • Customer Relationships and Service
  • Team management and project organization
  • Senior Technical Leadership Mentoring and Guidance
  • Management of Program Schedule, Budget and Execution/Delivery on Requirements
  • Subcontract/Subcontractor oversight and Management
  • Profit/Loss Responsibility for Program activities
  • Cross Program Segment Integration and Coordination (where applicable)
  • Road block removal as needed
  • Supporting Hiring and Staffing
  • Advancing program area and business vision/strategy and long term plans
  • Leadership and/or support to new business pursuits
  • Light employee performance management as it pertains to program delivery.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with EVMS for Software programs (Agile EVM techniques a plus)
  • Experience with DoD and command and control, mission planning, and common system development techniques as a desirable if not required

Sphinx Defense develops software systems that tackle complex national security challenges for the United States and its allies. Their products are built to help government and partner organizations analyze data, detect threats, and support decision-making in security matters. By focusing specifically on defense-related software for national security and working with American and allied partners, Sphinx Defense differentiates itself from broader tech vendors. The company's goal is to provide reliable software solutions that protect national security interests and enhance allied defense capabilities.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Founded

2020

Get referred to Sphinx Defense

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The $287 million July 27, 2026 ESS award materially expands backlog.
  • May 12, 2025 JAM wins prove adjacent demand for resilient, cloud-based ground software.
  • ESS supports nuclear command and control, protecting funding through 2027 launch milestones.

What critics are saying

  • Revenue depends on Space Force awards; one program slip hits 2026-2028 growth.
  • OTA prototyping can end after Phase 3, forcing recompete or cancellation by SSC.
  • Northrop, Lockheed, and Boeing can outspend Sphinx Defense if ESS requirements shift.

What makes Sphinx Defense unique

  • Sphinx Defense won Space Force ESS mission planning after Phases 1 and 2, July 2026.
  • Its software spans mission planning, antenna marketplaces, and cloud-native satellite operations, not hardware.
  • SSC trusted Sphinx Defense for JAM prototyping in May 2025, showing repeatability.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Profit Sharing

Company Equity

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

3%

2 year growth

6%
GovCon Wire
Jul 28th, 2026
Sphinx Defense books $287M Space Force ESS Mission Planning OTA agreement.

Sphinx Defense books $287M Space Force ESS Mission Planning OTA agreement. * Sphinx Defense has booked a Space Force OTA agreement for ESS mission planning * The Phase 3 award follows two earlier prototyping phases * The 2026 Air and Space Summit this Thursday will explore AI, Golden Dome and more As the Space Force advances its strategic satellite communications architecture, government and industry leaders will gather at the Potomac Officers Club's 2026 Air and Space Summit this Thursday to discuss artificial intelligence, commercial space relay, interoperable optical networks, Golden Dome and more. Register now to join the conversation shaping the future of air and space acquisition. Space Systems Command said Monday the acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing awarded the Phase 3 agreement to Sphinx Defense through the Space Enterprise Consortium. What is the scope of the Phase 3 OTA agreement? The Phase 3 OTA agreement directs Sphinx Defense to develop and complete prototyping of the ESS Mission Planning application. The award builds on designs produced during Phases 1 and 2, which were competitive prototyping efforts intended to develop a best-in-class application for ESS mission planning. The application is intended to prepare the ground segment to manage complex global scenarios and integrate into the broader ESS enterprise. "System Delta 88 must field this crucial nuclear command, control, and communications satellite mission planning capability with combat quality, combat speed, and combat responsiveness to win the high-end fight in contested environments," said Col. Ryan Rose, System Delta 88 commander. What is evolved strategic SATCOM? According to SSC, ESS is a satellite communications system of the Department of War that will serve as the next generation of strategic nuclear command, control and communications. The system is designed to deliver secure, jam-resistant and survivable communications, enabling the president, the DOW secretary and other national leaders to command and control U.S. forces worldwide. What is Sphinx Defense? Sphinx Defense is a defense technology company focused on developing software designed to address complex national security problems facing the U.S. and its allies by supporting satellite operations and ground data transfers. The company's work builds on other recent government contracts. In 2025, Sphinx Defense received a contract from SSC to build a secure cloud-based Joint Antenna Marketplace prototype designed to connect satellite operations centers to government and commercial antennas. In 2024, the company won a spot on a potential $1 billion Space Force contract to develop a next-generation ground system for military satellites as part of the Rapid Resilient Command and Control program.

Defense Daily
Jul 27th, 2026
Space Force awards ESS Mission Planning app to Sphinx Defense.

Space Force awards ESS Mission Planning app to Sphinx Defense. Monday, July 27th, 2026 The Space Force's Space Systems Command on Monday said it awarded a $287 million contract to Sphinx Defense to develop and complete a prototype of the mission planning application to support command and control of U.S. nuclear forces. The Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Mission Planning Other Transaction Authority Phase 3 agreement was awarded through the Space Enterprise Consortium and was made by the acting Space Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing. "This award delivers... Not a subscriber or registered user yet? Please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.