Program Manager, Secure Space Data Systems

Muon Space seeks a Program Manager to lead the development, demonstration, and productization of secure data-handling capabilities for our satellite platforms. This work directly expands the set of national-security missions Muon can pursue and execute — the Program Manager owns both the program's execution and its transition into active proposals and funded flight programs.

This is a hands-on role at the intersection of hardware development, embedded firmware, security engineering, and government mission capture. It is a technical program management position: the right candidate contributes directly to the engineering — architecture, design, analysis, and test — as a working member of the team, not just its coordinator. The Program Manager is the single accountable owner for cost, schedule, and technical performance across the program's parallel swimlanes: cryptographic hardware carrier development, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testbed build-out, end-to-end encrypted data-path demonstration (ground-to-flight and flight-to-ground), and proposal-ready design artifacts for upcoming government opportunities. Because the team is small and senior, the PM does their own scheduling, cost tracking, and program control — there is no supporting program office.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

• Program Execution

• Own the integrated master schedule, cost baseline, and risk register for the program

• Drive the program through design reviews, hardware build and integration, test campaigns, and demonstration milestones — meeting all internal and customer commitments

• Run the weekly program cadence; make decisions with incomplete information at startup pace and escalate crisply when needed

• Security and Compliance

• Own the program's security and compliance posture, including controlled-material handling and coordination with government security processes and certification requirements

• Ensure all execution complies with ITAR/EAR export controls and U.S.-only performance requirements

• Technical Contribution and Cross-Functional Leadership

• Contribute directly to the engineering and design of the system — architecture and trade studies, requirements development, design analysis, and hands-on support of integration and test

• Partner closely with the Mission Manager, Chief Engineer, and cross-disciplinary technical leads to drive technical decision-making

• Own configuration control and drive resolution of cross-functional issues quickly, escalating to program leadership when needed

• Capture and Proposal Support

• Support active proposal and capture efforts with technical artifacts and cost and schedule inputs, without derailing baseline execution

• Partner with Business Development, Capture, and Product teams on transitioning the capability into funded flight programs

• Represent the program in customer and partner technical exchanges

• 6+ years of professional experience in program management of complex technical system development spanning hardware and software

• 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience (electrical, embedded systems, mechanical, RF/communications, or similar), with the ability and desire to contribute directly to design, analysis, and test while leading the program

• Direct experience with space, defense, or aerospace programs that handle CUI or classified data

• Demonstrated ownership of a board- or box-level hardware development effort through design reviews to a working, tested product

• Experience leading