Why LeoLabs?

At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.

We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.

If you're looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.

LeoLabs is seeking a Technical Program Manager (TPM)/Lead Systems Engineer to lead the technical execution of mission-critical programs advancing next-generation radar systems, software platforms, and data solutions for government and commercial customers supporting Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Space Superiority, and Missile Warning missions. The TPM will serve as the primary liaison between customers, engineering teams, and program stakeholders, ensuring successful delivery of technical solutions while managing scope, schedule, risk, and performance objectives.

This role combines technical leadership, systems engineering, customer engagement, and program execution responsibilities. The successful candidate will serve as the technical authority responsible for translating mission requirements into executable system solutions while supporting customer interactions and program delivery.

This position will work directly with the Technical Director of Radar Systems Engineering and partner closely with Mission Architecture and Mission Integration leadership.

The ideal candidate combines strong program management expertise with a deep technical background, enabling them to effectively coordinate multidisciplinary teams and drive successful outcomes across software, hardware, data, and operational domains.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership
Lead systems engineering activities for strategic programs
Lead technical program execution from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment with customer requirements, contractual obligations, and company objectives
Serve as the primary point of contact for customer stakeholders on programmatic and technical matters
Coordinate cross-functional teams including software engineering, systems engineering, radar engineering, product management, operations, and data science
Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and resource forecasts
Manage technical risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies while driving mitigation strategies and corrective actions
Track program performance against technical, schedule, and contractual objectives and communicate status to leadership and customers
Facilitate technical reviews, design reviews, program management reviews, and customer briefings
Support requirements management, technical planning, system integration, testing, deployment, and operational readiness activities
Collaborate with business development and capture teams to support proposals, technical volumes, solution development, and follow-on opportunities
Ensure effective communication and coordination across internal and external stakeholders throughout the program lifecycle
Drive continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance program execution and delivery effectiveness
Lead technical reviews and design activities

Radar Systems Engineering

Support radar architecture development
Assess performance impacts and technical trades
Evaluate detection, tracking, and characterization performance
Support sensor performance validation

Program Execution

Partner with Program Manager to ensure technical execution
Identify and mitigate technical risks
Coordinate engineering teams and technical work products

Customer Engagement

Participate in customer technical exchanges
Support requirements discussions
Present technical analyses and recommendations

Mission Integration

Coordinate with Mission Architecture and Mission Integration teams
Support demonstration planning and execution
Ensure technical solutions align with mission outcomes

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
7+ years of experience managing technical programs, engineering projects, or complex technology initiatives
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in software, systems engineering, aerospace, defense, or related technical environments
Strong understanding of systems engineering, software development lifecycles, technical integration, and program management methodologies
Experience managing customer-facing technical programs with multiple stakeholders
Excellent organizational, communication, presentation, and leadership skills
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in dynamic environments
S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain any required security clearances

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting Department of Defense, U.S. Space Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, or other national security customers
Familiarity with Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Space Situational Awareness (SSA), radar systems, sensor networks, space operations, or command-and-control systems
Experience managing software-intensive, data-intensive, or mission systems programs
Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile, Scrum, or equivalent certification
Experience with cloud-based architectures, data platforms, and modern software delivery practices
Active U.S. security clearance
Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related discipline

Work Location

Washington, D.C. metro area preferred. This role requires periodic travel to customer locations, LeoLabs offices, and industry events as required.

Contingency Statement

This position is associated with a prospective customer contract and is contingent upon contract award, customer approval, funding availability, and successful execution of all contractual requirements. LeoLabs may extend contingent employment offers to qualified candidates prior to contract award to support program readiness and staffing planning.

Any contingent offer of employment will remain subject to final contract award, program authorization, funding, and satisfaction of all pre-employment requirements. Upon contract award and receipt of all necessary approvals, contingent offers may be converted to regular employment offers and candidates will be provided with an official start date.

Technical Program Manager (Contingent Upon Contract Award)