Program Manager

Program Manager The Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab Texas is a U.S. Space Force initiative hosted at the University of Texas at Austin and funded by a $9.27 million grant from the Texas Space Commission. The lab accelerates the delivery of space battle management software to operational units by transforming academic and commercial research into mission‑ready capabilities through a structured accelerator program similar to SDA TAP Lab in Colorado Springs. The lab pioneers next‑generation defenses for the nation’s critical space architecture, integrating AI, astrodynamics, cyber‑informed engineering (CIE), and decision intelligence. The GaiaVerse GaiaGraph platform anchors the decision intelligence architecture, providing explainable, real‑time analytics across space and cyberspace domains. TAP Lab Texas operates in close coordination with U.S. Space Force System Delta 85, Task Force‑Futures, SSIO, AFRL, and other mission partners. Purpose The Program Manager (PM) is the day‑to‑day operations officer of the SDA TAP Lab Texas, working in close, seamless partnership with – and under the technical direction of – Prof. Moriba Jah, the Principal Investigator and Director. The PM serves as the hub through which cohorts, USSF mission partners, university administration, and external stakeholders connect, translating the PI’s strategic and technical vision into executable operational plans. The PM is accountable for cost, schedule, and performance delivery across all grant‑funded activities, and is the first point of contact for cohort teams as they prototype, integrate, and validate their tools and applications within the lab environment. Working Relationship with the PI/Director The PM reports directly to Prof. Moriba Jah, who serves concurrently as Principal Investigator and Director. The PM converts direction into schedules, actions, and outcomes, and must be able to receive, internalize, and execute technical guidance with minimal hand‑holding. Effective Candidate Profile Internalize and operationalize the PI/Director’s technical direction without requiring re‑explanation of underlying scientific rationale. Anticipate the PI/Director’s needs, surface emerging issues before they escalate, and bring proposed solutions rather than problems alone. Represent the PI/Director’s technical and programmatic positions accurately and confidently to cohort teams, USSF partners, and UT Austin administration. Maintain a seamless operational cadence with the PI/Director through regular briefings, shared dashboards, and a mutual commitment to mission success over bureaucratic friction. Exercise independent judgment on day‑to‑day operational matters within the boundaries set by the PI/Director, escalating strategic or technical decisions appropriately. Responsibilities Day‑to‑Day Operations & Cohort Integration Serve as the resident operations officer for TAP Lab Texas, maintaining daily situational awareness of all active cohort activities, resources, and timelines. Facilitate integration of cohort tools, applications, and datasets into the SDATAP Lab Texas infrastructure during sprint cycles. Coordinate access to lab computational resources, secure data feeds, and GaiaGraph integration pipelines on behalf of cohort teams. Manage onboarding and off‑boarding of cohort participants, including data‑sharing agreements and lab access orientation. Serve as the primary operational interface between cohort teams and TAP Lab technical leads, ensuring clear communication of technical direction. Cost / Schedule / Performance Management Own the integrated master schedule (IMS) for all TAP Lab activities, tracking milestones across cohort cycles and infrastructure buildout. Monitor grant expenditures against the approved budget, coordinate with UT Austin Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) on financial reporting, and flag variances and risks to the PI/Director for timely correction. Prepare and deliver periodic programmatic and financial status reports to the Texas Space Commission, USSF partners, and UT Austin leadership. Maintain risk registers and mitigation plans; proactively raise issues threatening cost, schedule, or performance. Ensure deliverables comply with TSC grant terms, UT Austin sponsored project policies, and federal regulations (2 CFR Part 200, DoD flow‑down clauses). Stakeholder Coordination & Liaison Primary liaison to U.S. Space Force System Delta 85 and the SDA TAP Lab national program office. Coordinate with the SDA TAP Lab Maui node on shared resources, joint activities, and cross‑site programmatic alignment. Represent TAP Lab Texas at USSF headquarters meetings, program reviews, and coordination sessions as directed. Cultivate relationships with DoD program officers, AFRL, AFWERX/SpaceWERX, DIU, and other innovation partners. Interface with UT Austin Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of Research, and legal/contracts offices on sub‑award, teaming, and compliance matters. Technology Transition & Reporting Track TRLs and transition status of cohort solutions, maintaining an up‑to‑date capability mapping aligned to USSF mission threads. Support the PI and GaiaVerse GaiaGraph team in benchmarking cohort performance and identifying gaps relative to operational priorities. Contribute to after‑action reports, cohort outcome summaries, and transition packages submitted to TSC and USSF partners. Support preparation of presentations, white papers, and briefings for DoD audiences under the direction of the PI/Director. Travel Travel to U.S. Space Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO for program reviews, partner coordination, and national program office meetings. Travel to SDA TAP Lab Maui node for cross‑site coordination and joint cohort activities. Travel to other locations as required for conferences, technology demonstrations, or stakeholder engagement. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field. Minimum five (5) years of experience in program/project management, research administration, or a related role within a federally sponsored research or DoD program environment. Demonstrated experience managing cost, schedule, and performance for multi‑year, multi‑stakeholder programs (>$1 M annual budget). Familiarity with federal grant regulations (2 CFR Part 200) and sponsored project administration processes. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to prepare clear briefings and reports for technical and executive audiences. Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent) and standard office productivity software. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance. Willingness and ability to travel domestically as required (estimated 15–25 % travel). Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance required. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree or PMP / PMI‑ACP certification. Prior experience working with or within the U.S. Space Force, AFRL, DoD innovation hubs (AFWERX, SpaceWERX, DIU), or a university‑affiliated defense research center. Familiarity with Space Domain Awareness, astrodynamics, cybersecurity, or AI/ML applications in defense contexts. Experience with technology accelerator or cohort‑based R&D programs. Active DoD security clearance (Secret or higher). Experience with sub‑award management, teaming agreements, and SBIR/STTR program administration. Core Competencies Mission Orientation: deep commitment to national security, space sustainability, and the U.S. Space Force mission. Operational Discipline: rigorous adherence to cost/schedule/performance baselines with a proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset. Collaborative Leadership: ability to convene and align various stakeholders around shared objectives. Technical Literacy: capacity to engage substantively with space technology, AI/ML, and cybersecurity topics without being a domain expert. Adaptability: comfort operating in a fast‑paced, sprint‑cycle environment with evolving sponsor requirements. Integrity & Trustworthiness: highest ethical standards consistent with handling sensitive government program information. Salary Range $150,000 + depending on qualifications. Working Conditions Work is performed in a standard office environment. Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation. Occasional on‑call/travel duties. This is a TX‑based position. Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. #J-18808-Ljbffr