Head of Programme Management

Job Title

Program Manager

Location

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Overview

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. The Program Manager (PM) serves as the day‑to‑day operations officer, working closely with Principal Investigator and Director Prof. Moriba Jah, translating the PI’s strategic vision into executable plans, and ensuring cost, schedule, and performance delivery across all grant‑funded activities.

Responsibilities

Serve as the resident operations officer, maintaining situational awareness of all active cohort activities, resources, and timelines.

Facilitate integration of cohort teams’ tools, applications, and datasets into the lab infrastructure and data environment 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, lab access, and orientation to U.S. Space Force mission context.

Serve as the primary operational interface between cohort teams and lab technical leads, ensuring clear communication of PI/Director directions.

Own the integrated master schedule for all lab activities, tracking milestones across cohort cycles, infrastructure build‑out, and reporting obligations.

Monitor grant expenditures against the approved budget, coordinate with UT Austin Office of Sponsored Projects on financial reporting, and proactively flag variances and risks to the PI/Director.

Prepare and deliver periodic programmatic and financial status reports to the Texas Space Commission, U.S. Space Force mission partners, and UT Austin leadership.

Maintain risk registers and mitigation plans; proactively elevate issues that threaten cost, schedule, or performance baselines.

Ensure deliverables comply with TSC grant terms, UT Austin sponsored project policies, and applicable federal regulations.

Serve as the 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 alignment.

Represent the lab at U.S. Space Force headquarters meetings, program reviews, and coordination sessions as directed.

Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with DoD program officers, AFRL, AFWERX/SpaceWERX, DIU, and other innovation partners.

Interface with UT Austin’s Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of Research, and legal/contracts offices on sub‑award, teaming, and compliance matters.

Track technology readiness levels and transition status of cohort solutions, maintaining an up‑to‑date capability mapping aligned to U.S. Space Force 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 the Texas Space Commission and U.S. Space Force partners.

Support preparation of presentations, white papers, and briefings for DoD audiences under the direction of the PI/Director.

Travel as mission requirements dictate, including U.S. Space Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO; SDA TAP Lab Maui node; and other locations for conferences, 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 the 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, Air Force Research Laboratory, 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, and performance baselines with a proactive, solutions‑oriented mindset.

Collaborative Leadership: ability to convene and align researchers, engineers, and administrators 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

Travel Requirements

Domestic travel as required (15‑25 %) including U.S. Space Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO; SDA TAP Lab Maui node; and other locations for conferences, technology demonstrations, and stakeholder engagement.

Working Conditions

Work performed in a standard office environment.

Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation.

Occasional on‑call/travel duties.

This is a TX‑based position.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalists under consideration for this 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.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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