Technical Program Manager

Your Mission

Enable GITAI’s engineering teams to stay focused on engineering by owning the program coordination and external dependencies around them.

The Technical Program Manager is a hands-on individual contributor role supporting GITAI’s Space-Based Interceptor program and related U.S. government missile defense initiatives. You will report to the VP of Program Management and help the program deliver against a series of contractual, technical, regulatory, integration, and launch milestones. This role has no direct reports.

This is not a product management, technical authority, or people-management role. It is closer to a Mission Manager role in aerospace, focused on coordinating the work around Engineering and keeping the mission on track.

Engineering leaders will own the technical direction and execution. You will own flight opportunity assessment, launch campaign coordination, mission integration, external deliverables, regulatory and government approval tracking, contract support, and stakeholder coordination.

You will work across launch service providers, launch aggregators, other payload organizations sharing the launch, U.S. government customers, regulatory authorities, subcontractors, and internal teams. Success requires more than maintaining smooth relationships. You must be able to negotiate, challenge assumptions, push back on unrealistic requirements or commitments, and hold stakeholders accountable when mission execution is at risk.

At its core, this role is about maximizing the output of the engineering team. You will turn complex external dependencies into clear actions, create the structure and momentum needed to keep the program moving, and enable the team to deliver each milestone with rigor and precision.

What You’ll Drive

• Assess launch and rideshare opportunities by evaluating launch vehicle capabilities, payload constraints, target orbit, schedule, launch-site logistics, pricing, contractual terms, regulatory requirements, and mission risk.
• Own the program coordination for each launch campaign from flight opportunity selection through payload delivery, integration, launch readiness, and launch execution.
• Serve as the primary working-level point of contact across U.S. government customers, launch service providers, launch aggregators, mission partners, regulators, subcontractors, and GITAI’s internal teams.
• Build and maintain the integrated mission plan, including engineering milestones, external deliverables, government approvals, testing, payload integration, logistics, contract commitments, risks, and decisions.
• Read and interpret Payload User’s Guides and other mission documentation with Engineering, translate external requirements into clear internal actions, and obtain clarification or negotiate changes when requirements are unclear or impractical.
• Facilitate external meetings, gather questions and concerns from Engineering, secure clear answers and decisions, and push back when requirements, deadlines, or commitments put program execution at risk.
• Work with Engineering, Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, Security, and external consultants to manage contracts, regulatory items, and other non-engineering dependencies through completion.
• Provide concise updates to program leadership on current status, critical risks, unresolved dependencies, contractual or financial exposure, and decisions required.

What We’re Looking For

You do not need to arrive with detailed knowledge of every launch vehicle, orbital parameter, or licensing process. You do need to learn unfamiliar technical and regulatory subjects quickly and turn new information into clear program actions.

You should have:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience managing technically complex or regulated programs.
• At least one year of full-time experience in a fast-moving startup or small company where roles, priorities, and processes changed frequently.
• Direct experience serving as the bridge between an internal technical organization and government agencies, regulatory authorities, public-sector customers, or other external stakeholders.
• Experience serving as the primary point of contact for a complex program and managing external deliverables, approvals, contractual commitments, schedules, risks, and decisions.
• The ability to quickly understand technical documentation, identify missing information, ask the right questions, and work effectively with engineers and other subject-matter experts.
• The judgment and confidence to negotiate, challenge assumptions, push back on unrealistic requirements or commitments, and hold senior stakeholders accountable while preserving a workable relationship.
• A hands-on individual-contributor operating style. You will personally run meetings, maintain schedules and trackers, prepare decision materials, support negotiations, and drive actions to closure. This role has no direct reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical, contractual, and regulatory issues clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Strong plus:

• Experience with spacecraft missions, launch campaigns, payload integration, launch service providers, launch aggregators, or rideshare missions.
• Familiarity with Payload User’s Guides, launch vehicle capabilities, orbital parameters, commercial launch pricing, test requirements, or interface-control requirements.
• Experience with FCC, NOAA, spectrum, RF communications, export controls, or other space-related regulatory processes.
• Experience working with the U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, or another Department of Defense organization.
• Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, Other Transaction Agreements, CUI, DD254 requirements, or classified programs.

Location and Position Type

• Torrance, CA / Full-time
• This is a full-time onsite role based at GITAI’s office in Torrance, CA. This position requires working onsite five days per week. Remote or hybrid work is not expected for this role.
• Regular travel may be required based on program needs, including customer meetings, partner coordination, testing, integration, and launch activities.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $125,000 to $165,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, demonstrated program-management capability, government and regulatory experience, and other job-related factors.

This position is also eligible for stock options and company benefits.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Healthcare: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with 90% coverage for dependents, plus life insurance
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match
• Equity Opportunities: Stock options in a rapidly growing startup, giving you a stake in our success 
• Relocation Support: Financial assistance for relocation is available for candidates residing outside the Los Angeles area
• Paid Time Off: 12 days of paid time off (PTO) and 12 company holidays annually
• Office Perks: Enjoy free snacks and drinks, plus regular social events to foster team spirit 

GITAI does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. We work only with recruiting partners that have been specifically engaged by GITAI. No fees will be paid for resumes submitted without a prior agreement.

LA salary range 125000 - 165000 USD