Operational Technical Program Manager

Privateer Space, Inc., leverages geospatial data and artificial intelligence to provide critical insights across a variety of sectors and applications. 

In short, we help our customers know more, know better, and do better.

Privateer is a leader in Earth intelligence and AI, integrating data from sea to space and everything in between to sculpt information into answers. Its advanced, user-centric geospatial analytics platform enables organizations to understand the present, anticipate the future, and make better decisions in the face of complex challenges. 

Co-founded by Apple pioneer Steve Wozniak, the company is committed to unlocking the valuable insights that will help problem-solvers address the world's toughest challenges and drive shared, sustainable use of our resources - on Earth and beyond.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an Operational Technical Program Manager (TPM) to bring structure, visibility, and execution discipline to complex engineering initiatives and federal project opportunities. This role exists to help the organization make and execute high-quality decisions by connecting technical teams and business functions, aligning priorities, and ensuring critical initiatives move forward with clarity and accountability.

As a central program leader, you will work across Engineering, Product, Business Development, Capture, Proposal, Contracts, Finance, and executive leadership to drive alignment and enable timely decisions. You will have the opportunity to build scalable operating processes, shape how the organization evaluates and executes federal opportunities, and create the visibility leadership needs to make informed investments. This is a high-impact role for a technically fluent, highly organized operator who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex cross-functional problems, and wants to help a growing organization scale with greater speed and predictability.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Drive end-to-end execution of engineering projects, ensuring deliverables, milestones, dependencies, and timelines remain visible and on track.
• Partner with engineering and technical leaders to develop and maintain integrated project plans and execution roadmaps.
• Proactively identify, track, and resolve schedule risks, resource constraints, dependencies, blockers, and critical-path issues.
• Establish clear mechanisms for communicating project progress, risks, decisions, scope changes, and timeline changes across stakeholders.Facilitate cross-functional execution meetings, drive accountability, and ensure timely follow-through on action items.
• Own and manage the standardized federal opportunity assessment process from initial intake through Ag/No-Go decision.Maintain a structured federal opportunity pipeline with defined stages, owners, decision points, timelines, and required deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional assessments across Engineering, Product, Business Development, Capture, Contracts, Finance, Security, Operations, and Executive Leadership.
• Coordinate technical feasibility and solution assessments, including engineering effort, resource requirements, schedule, dependencies, risks, assumptions, and capacity considerations.
• Ensure opportunity assessment requirements, deliverables, assumptions, risks, open questions, and decision rationale are clearly documented and communicated.
• Provide leadership with a consolidated view of project and opportunity status, risks, resource needs, and upcoming decision points.
• Develop repeatable processes, templates, dashboards, and operating mechanisms that improve program execution and decision-making.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs to improve predictability, efficiency, delivery performance, and opportunity assessment cycle times.
• Continuously improve program and operational processes by incorporating performance data, lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback.
• Translate complex technical and operational information into concise, actionable reporting and business-level communication for engineering and executive leadership.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management, Program Management, Engineering Operations, or a related discipline.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional technical programs involving engineering teams.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives with competing priorities.
• Strong experience with project planning, dependency management, risk management, and milestone tracking.
• Experience working directly with engineering and technical teams.
• Strong organizational and operational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to drive accountability without having direct authority over the teams involved.Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Experience building and improving operational processes and workflows.Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting U.S. federal government programs, contracts, or procurement processes.
• Experience with federal opportunity/capture processes and technical solution assessments.
• Experience supporting Ag/No-Go or Bid/No-Bid decision processes.
• Experience in a government contracting, defense, aerospace, national security, or highly regulated environment.
• Technical background or demonstrated ability to work effectively with software, hardware, systems, or infrastructure engineering organizations.
• Experience with tools such as Jira, Linear, Asana, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Confluence, Notion, or similar program-management platforms.
• Experience developing executive dashboards and operational metrics.PMP, PgMP, or related certification is a plus.

COMPENSATION 

US Salary Range:  $160,000.00-200,000.00

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers, and are considered part of Privateer’s total compensation package.

 BENEFITS

We believe great work happens when talented people have the flexibility, support, and resources to do their best work. We offer a competitive total rewards package designed to support our employees both at work and in life, including:

• Competitive Compensation: Competitive base salary and opportunities for additional performance-based compensation, where applicable.
• Top-Tier Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of employee premiums covered by the company.
• Flexible Time Off: A flexible time-off approach that gives employees the autonomy to take the time they need to recharge, travel, spend time with family, or simply unplug.
• Work-Life Flexibility: A flexible, trust-based work environment designed to help employees balance meaningful work with life outside of work.
• Paid Company Holidays: Time away to celebrate and recharge throughout the year.
• Fun, Collaborative Culture: A team that values innovation, humor, collaboration, and having fun while doing meaningful, high-impact work.

Benefits are subject to applicable plan terms, eligibility requirements, and company policies.