Technical Program Manager - Commercial

About Aalyria:

Aalyria is a leading technology company that supplies laser communications technology and temporospatial software-defined networking platforms to the aerospace industry. With technology acquired from Google, Aalyria is at the forefront of innovation in satellite and airborne mesh networks, as well as cislunar and deep-space communications. We are revolutionizing the orchestration and management of planetary mesh networks using any radio or optical spectrum, any orbit, and any hardware across land, sea, air, and space.

Role Overview:

Aalyria’s Spacetime platform orchestrates highly dynamic aerospace networks using a temporospatial Software Defined Networking (SDN) approach, managing not just routing, but also the physical link topology and lower-layer configuration.

We are looking for a highly capable Technical Program Manager (TPM) to drive the end-to-end execution across the Spacetime engineering program and customer deliverables. In this role, you will be the linchpin between our internal engineering teams and the customer. You must be a master at "getting things done through others" without relying on direct authority, leveraging your deep understanding of software and engineering needs to drive delivery. You will interface directly with high-level customer stakeholders, ensuring our technical execution seamlessly aligns with customer operational and financial requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-End Program Execution: Own the program planning and execution software product integration, guiding the project through the different phases of the mission
• Customer & Stakeholder Leadership: Act as the primary programmatic interface with the customer, communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences, including high-level executives and technical stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Run cross-functional operating rhythms (kickoffs, weekly reviews, exec readouts) to keep Product, Engineering, Design, and Solutions Engineering aligned on status, risks, and decisions.
• Requirements Translation: Translate customer requirements into actionable engineering plans, ensuring delivery expectations remain crisp as scope evolves. You do not need to be a software engineer, but you must possess enough exposure to the software lifecycle to accurately guide technical teams.
• Contract & Financial Management: Take full ownership of the Time & Materials (T&M) contract reporting requirements. You will be responsible for tracking and submitting strict monthly reports on labor, subcontracts, hardware, materials, and travel at the Master Equipment List (MEL) level to accompany invoicing.
• Risk & Delivery Coordination: Identify schedule, scope, and dependency risks early, escalate with context, and coordinate mitigations with Engineering Leads. Coordinate delivery across varying environments (development, staging, and dedicated public or government cloud production instances).

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in technical program management, engineering program management, or a closely related operations role delivering complex technical platforms.
• US Citizen with the eligibility to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence without authority and interface confidently with high-level customer executives.
• Demonstrated exposure to the software development lifecycle and modern software delivery concepts (APIs, CI/CD, cloud deployments), with the ability to understand and articulate engineering needs.
• Experience managing complex project financials, resource tracking, or strict contractual reporting requirements.
• Background as a software, hardware, or mission engineer, as a solutions architect, or equivalent deep, embedded experience running technical programs alongside engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong background in satellite and mission operations, particularly in early-orbit commissioning, fleet readiness, and executing operations in high-consequence environments.
• Proven ability to design, build, and implement structured operational workflows, task management processes, and anomaly resolution frameworks.
• Experience supporting deployments in regulated, high-assurance, or government environments.
• Familiarity with networking, telecom, or SDN/traffic engineering concepts.
• Background and experience as an engineer or solutions architecture

Compensation

The base salary for this role is $171,000 – $191,000, which may vary by geographic location. Compensation also includes a competitive equity grant, an annual performance bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package. Your final offer will reflect your location, skills, qualifications, and experience.

What We Offer:

• Innovative Environment: Work at a cutting-edge company shaping the future of aerospace communications.
• Impactful Work: Directly contribute to critical national security programs and initiatives.
• Growth Opportunities: Expand your career with opportunities for professional development and advancement.
• Inclusive Culture: Be part of a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive workplace where your contributions matter.
• Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements including hybrid remote/in-office schedules.
• Compensation and Equity: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits (401(k), dental, vision, health, life insurance), paid time off, and equity options.

ITAR/EAR Requirements:

This position involves access to export-controlled information. To comply with U.S. government export regulations, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

(A) Qualify as a U.S. person, which includes:

• U.S. citizen or national
• U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157
• Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158

(B) Be eligible to access export-controlled information without requiring an export authorization.

(C) Be eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the necessary export authorization from the appropriate U.S. government agency.

The company reserves the right to decline pursuing an export licensing process for legitimate business-related reasons.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Aalyria is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.