Director, Commercial Space Programs

Stellar Solutions, a nationally recognized “Great Place To Work”, has exciting opportunities providing Engineering solutions for innovative new-entrant space companies, as well as established space systems manufacturers, Commercial Space system operators and service providers, and other industry stakeholders including investors.  

At Stellar Solutions, we offer talented, energetic, and immediately productive resources to satisfy our customers’ critical needs in systems engineering and integration, mission operations, program management and strategic planning. We are a leading service and expertise provider for high-tech commercial ventures, spanning communications, earth observation and remote sensing systems and data products, to the infrastructures that support earth orbiting and future commercial lunar and interplanetary businesses.

The Director reports to the Vice President of Commercial Programs and provides leadership and input in support of the Commercial Sector and company new business pursuits and operations, including strategic planning, hiring Stellar staff, workforce development, and business development efforts focused on addressing customers’ critical needs across the diverse range of commercial sector customers.  A major component of the leadership role involves closing on new business opportunities to grow the Commercial Sector’s portfolio, identifying and hiring best in class candidates, collaborating with the other Stellar Sectors to deliver comprehensive industry capabilities to new and existing customers, and contribute  to developing and executing the sector and company strategic plan. 

The Director must effectively interface with clients in developing new opportunities, and support of contract implementation and management.  The ideal candidate should be comfortable in a role that combines technical hands on work for clients, pursuit of new business, and support of company operations.

The Director of Commercial Space Programs provides support in developing and securing new business, and project management leadership and direction for the Stellar staff supporting the contracts assigned to the Director.  She/he has responsibility to interview and onboard new employees for assigned projects, including explaining Stellar’s compensation and benefits package, and supporting contingent employment offer development for prospective employees.  She/he must be able to encourage and nurture diversity in hiring in addition to proactively helping employees realize their dream jobs.  She/he will also be expected to understand, utilize, and monitor the iCIMS Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to search and vet new candidates, and Salesforce to document customer and employee outreach and pipeline opportunity tracking.

Required Qualifications:

• Senior-Level – minimum of 12 years of applicable experience, with 5–10 years in Commercial Space Systems Engineering and Project Management
  
• Excellent written and verbal communications with a demonstrated capability to work collaboratively with customers at all levels, partners, and colleagues
• BS in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or Systems preferred)
  
• Demonstrated experience in key leadership roles
• Experience with Commercial Space program structure and execution
• Ability to influence without authority, working with technical and cross-functional teams
• Comfortable working in fast-paced commercial and start up environments and enjoy working with multidisciplinary teams on a diverse array of challenges related to satellite system development and implementation
• Demonstrated problem solving, analytical and leadership skills, combined with excellent business judgment
• Poise under pressure and the ability to skillfully manage multiple simultaneous priorities
• Must be a US citizen or greencard holder

Desired Qualifications:

• Spacecraft System Engineering expertise including but not limited to end-to-end architecture concepts, design for Cost (Opex and Capex), design for manufacture, supplier evaluation, CONOPS development, ICD development, technical proposal development
  
• Commercial Space Systems Program Management including evaluation of contracts, SPA and LSA development, schedule/ IMS, definition and management of key milestones and deliverables

Location: in order of preference: San Jose, CA or Los Angeles CA area

Salary Range: The typical pay range for this position is USD $170,000 - $240,000 per year, total package. Individual pay is determined by many factors including work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus, retirement plan and other benefits (all included as part of package).