Auriga Space · 20 hours ago
Head of Program Management
LA Metro Area
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expAuriga Space is revolutionizing propulsion by developing electromagnetic launch systems that offer dramatic advantages in cost, reliability, launch frequency, and responsiveness compared to traditional chemical rockets. The Head of Program Management will own the execution across programs, ensuring alignment with customer commitments and internal goals while coordinating with various teams to drive project success.
AerospaceGovernmentHardwareNational SecuritySpace Travel
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Own the integrated schedules for multiple programs, from early concept through delivery and post-delivery support
Define program milestones, deliverables, and success criteria in alignment with contracts, customer expectations, and internal goals
Work with leadership to balance scope, schedule, and resources; make and communicate clear tradeoffs when constraints collide
Coordinate day-to-day tasks across mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and operations teams
Run regular planning and tracking meetings, including sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives
Ensure tasks are clearly defined, prioritized, and owned, and that blockers are rapidly surfaced and removed
Keep the entire organization aligned on 'who is doing what, by when, and why it matters.'
Lead requirements definition and decomposition in collaboration with engineering and business: capture customer needs and translate them into clear, testable requirements
Prioritize features and capabilities within each program to ensure we deliver the highest-impact work within constraints
Ensure design, manufacturing, and test plans stay in sync, with configuration and build statuses clearly understood by all stakeholders
Coordinate readiness for builds, integration events, and test campaigns (people, hardware, facilities, and documentation)
Drive issue resolution across disciplines when integration or test issues arise, tracking to closure
Serve as the primary owner for program-level status to internal leadership and key external stakeholders
Prepare and lead internal and customer-facing reviews (e.g., design reviews, status reviews, readiness reviews)
Communicate risk, issues, and mitigation plans clearly and proactively—no surprises
Understand when 'good enough' is sufficient
Introduce just enough structure to improve predictability and repeatability, without slowing innovation
Qualification
Required
10+ years of experience in program, product, or technical program management for complex engineering systems (hardware + software); defense, aerospace, or space experience strongly preferred
Prior experience in startups or small, fast-moving teams
Comfortable working directly with mechanical and electrical engineers, and manufacturing teams; able to understand technical discussions and convert them into plans and risks
Excellent communication skills: concise written status, crisp meeting facilitation, and ability to push for clarity and decisions
Comfortable operating in ambiguity, with limited process and rapidly evolving priorities; able to create structure where none exists
Technical degree in engineering, physics, or related field
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
Preferred
Background in systems engineering or exposure to systems-level architecture work
Direct experience with defense / NASA / prime contractor programs, including familiarity with reviews and contractual milestones
Experience coordinating with external manufacturing or supply chain partners
Company
Auriga Space
Next-generation electromagnetic propulsion for hypersonics, space and defense
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$9.6MKey Investors
OTB Ventures
2025-01-01Seed· $4.6M
2023-08-03Pre Seed· $5M
Leadership Team
Winnie Lai
Founder & CEO
Recent News
2025-07-16
2025-07-16
2025-07-15
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