Technical Program Manager, Missile Defense

Who We Are GITAI is a space robotics company working to reduce the cost of work in space by 100x. Space is no longer defined only by the cost of launch. Satellites, space stations, lunar infrastructure, and defense systems are becoming more capable and more ambitious. But getting hardware to space is only the first step. The harder problem is doing useful work once it is there. GITAI develops robotic systems for orbital, lunar, and defense applications. Our robots are designed for tasks such as assembly, inspection, maintenance, construction, and surface operations in environments where human labor is expensive, dangerous, or impractical. To move fast and drive cost down, we keep hardware, software, testing, and integration close together. This allows our team to learn from real tests, shorten development cycles, and reduce dependency on slow external handoffs. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. The work is difficult, and many answers are still not written down. If the work pulls you in, and you want to move it forward with your own hands, GITAI is the right place for you. 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, Missile Defense is a hands‑on individual contributor role supporting GITAI’s Space‑Based Interceptor program. Reporting to the VP of Program Management, you will help the program deliver against a series of contractual, technical, regulatory, integration, and launch milestones. This role has no direct reports. Engineering leaders will own the technical direction and execution. You will own flight opportunity assessment, launch campaign coordination, mission integration, regulatory tracking, contract support, and external stakeholder coordination. You will operate across a complex network of government customers, regulators, launch providers, mission partners, subcontractors, and internal teams. Success in this role requires more than keeping relationships smooth. You must be able to negotiate, challenge assumptions, push back when commitments or requirements put the mission at risk, and hold stakeholders accountable while preserving the working relationship. This is not a product management, technical authority, or people‑management role. It is closer to a Mission Manager role in aerospace, focused on removing non‑engineering obstacles and keeping the mission on track. What You’ll Drive Assess launch and rideshare opportunities with Engineering, Finance, Legal, and company leadership by evaluating orbit, schedule, payload constraints, technical compatibility, cost, contractual structure, regulatory requirements, and overall mission risk. Own the program coordination for each launch campaign from flight opportunity selection through payload delivery, integration, launch‑site operations, launch readiness, and launch execution. Serve as the primary working‑level point of contact among GITAI, U.S. government customers, launch service providers, other payload organizations sharing the launch, regulatory authorities, test facilities, subcontractors, and other mission partners. Build and maintain an integrated mission schedule that connects engineering milestones with contractual commitments, government approvals, partner deliverables, testing, payload integration, shipping, delivery, and launch activities. Coordinate mission interfaces, integration requirements, documentation, test readiness, safety reviews, logistics, site access, and partner deliverables, while leaving technical decisions with the responsible engineering leaders. Track regulatory, export‑control, licensing, spectrum, range, security, and government approval items. Establish clear owners and deadlines, manage dependencies, and elevate delays before they affect the mission schedule. Run the operating cadence for assigned programs, including customer and partner meetings, action tracking, decision records, risk reviews, contract deliverables, and executive updates. Drive the resolution of issues that cross organizational boundaries, including unclear responsibilities, missed commitments, schedule conflicts, regulatory constraints, interface issues, and contract interpretation. Work with Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, Security, Engineering, and company leadership to support the negotiation and execution of launch service agreements, mission support agreements, statements of work, subcontracts, amendments, and other mission‑related commitments. Prepare concise program updates and decision materials that clearly show current status, critical dependencies, available options, contractual or financial exposure, and decisions required. Build lightweight program‑management systems that provide control over actions, risks, decisions, and external commitments without creating unnecessary process. Travel to customer sites, partner facilities, test locations, integration facilities, and launch sites as required. What We’re Looking For We are looking for someone who has operated between an internal technical organization and government, regulatory, or other institutional stakeholders. You do not need to come from the aerospace industry. You do need to know how to move a technically complex and regulated program when important decisions, approvals, and dependencies sit outside the company. You should have: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field. 5+ years of experience managing technically complex programs in aerospace, defense, or another regulated industry. Direct experience serving as the bridge between an internal technical organization and government agencies, regulatory authorities, public‑sector customers, or other external oversight bodies. Experience serving as the primary point of contact for a technically complex program and coordinating stakeholders with different priorities, schedules, responsibilities, and levels of technical understanding. A proven record of managing programs with significant external dependencies, including customer decisions, government approvals, partner deliverables, contractual commitments, and technical milestones. Experience building and maintaining integrated schedules, action trackers, risk registers, and decision records, and using them to drive execution rather than document it after the fact. The ability to reduce technical, commercial, contractual, regulatory, or stakeholder issues to the core decision, define clear options and owners, and drive a practical resolution. Experience supporting the negotiation and execution of contracts, statements of work, service agreements, subcontracts, amendments, or other technically complex commercial arrangements. Strong technical judgment and the ability to work directly with engineers, understand system interfaces and program risks, and respect clear technical ownership. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing concise decision materials and briefing senior government, regulatory, customer, or company stakeholders. A hands‑on individual‑contributor operating style. You will personally build schedules, run meetings, maintain trackers, prepare decision materials, support negotiations, and drive actions to closure. This is not a delegation‑focused or people‑management role. U.S. citizenship is required, as this role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. Strong plus: Experience supporting aerospace, launch, national security, missile defense, or another regulated government program. Experience assessing flight opportunities, rideshare missions, hosted payloads, payload compatibility, or mission architecture trade‑offs. Experience managing a spacecraft launch campaign, payload integration effort, launch‑site operation, or another mission with a fixed operational deadline. Experience working with the U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Space Systems Command, Space Development Agency, or another Department of Defense organization. Familiarity with launch service agreements, payload integration plans, interface control documents, mission assurance, range safety, or flight‑readiness reviews. Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, FAA, FCC, NTIA, spectrum coordination, export controls, range requirements, or other government approval processes. Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, Other Transaction Agreements, government milestone structures, CUI, DD254 requirements, or classified programs. Experience with spaceborne sensors, electro‑optical or infrared systems, missile warning, missile tracking, or missile defense systems. Experience working in an early‑stage or high‑growth technology company where program processes and operating systems were still being built. An active or previously held U.S. government security clearance. Hiring Process Our hiring process is designed to evaluate whether there is a real working fit before making a full‑time offer. The process will generally include: Remote interview with the Head of HR Skill check Remote interview with the hiring manager Onsite interviews at GITAI’s office in Torrance, CA Paid onsite temporary employment or contract engagement period, generally ranging from two to four weeks depending on the position Full‑time hiring decision The onsite temporary employment or contract engagement period is a required part of the process. For this role, the period is expected to be two weeks. During this period, you will work onsite with the team in a paid capacity so both sides can evaluate fit in a real working environment. Full‑time employment is not guaranteed before this period. A full‑time offer may be made only after GITAI completes its evaluation during the temporary employment or contract engagement period. Please apply only if you are able to participate in the full hiring process, including the required onsite temporary employment or contract engagement period. If you are unable to leave your current role, take time away from your current employment, resolve any conflict issues, or otherwise make yourself available for this required onsite period, this position will not be a fit. 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 No agency submissions, please. Compensation may include base salary or hourly pay and, depending on the position, equity. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skillset, and other job‑related factors. LA salary range

$125,000—$165,000 USD

Important Notice Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), GITAI Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. GITAI USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with GITAI USA is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr GITAI