# Senior Program Manager, Secure Space Data Systems at Muon Space

> United States · Senior · Other · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Amuonspace%3A5200106007 (read 2026-11-06).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Muon Space](https://alderhq.app/companies/muon-space)
- Location text: San Jose, CA; Muon San Jose
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: San Jose, CA; Muon San Jose")
- Posted: 2026-07-31 (99 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-02 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/muonspace/jobs/5200106007

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: not posted
- Market band for similar posted roles (SF Bay Area, n 513): p25 $135k, median $165k, p75 $198k

## Description (the employer's text)

### About the role

Muon Space seeks a Senior 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.

### Responsibilities

### 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
### Required Qualifications

- 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 testbed, HITL, or ground-segment development and running structured verification or demonstration campaigns
- Working understanding of secure communications concepts — Type 1 encryption, Red/Black separation, key management — and their program-level implications (certification timelines, custody requirements, cleared-personnel constraints)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance
- U.S. Citizenship required (program is ITAR-restricted)

---
Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Amuonspace%3A5200106007 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.