Sr. Program Development Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 4, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 10, 2026. SpaceX scores A on the Alion truth index.
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. GOVERNMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. SpaceX Government Sales is expanding the team to support the deployment of StarshieldAI and Grok compute capabilities for the U.S. Government.
SpaceX is seeking a mission-oriented, results-driven Senior Manager to lead Government Program Development and business growth across the Department of War, focusing on government and classified supercomputing that make automated integration of global sensing a real-time decision advantage. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of mission-aligned agentic frontier models, the ability to communicate scaled-compute applications to technical and non-technical audiences, and the depth of experience to expand our DoW footprint by identifying and advancing AI opportunities aligned with national security priorities. This position demands knowledge of government procurement processes along with the energy, initiative, and dependability to own mission-critical outcomes with new government partners.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and execute a strategy for government stakeholder engagement, drive capture efforts, and develop a pipeline for supercomputing solutions addressing complex intelligence and operational challenges
- Identify, build, and maintain relationships with key DoW and Service level decision-makers, program managers, and technical evaluators across space and AI portfolios
- Identify new business opportunities and grow existing programs, finding new ways to fuse space sensing and supercomputing into quantifiable new lines of effort and revenue sources
- Shape and lead SpaceX responses to RFIs, RFPs, Sources Sought, and other government solicitations with technical content, compliance matrices, and differentiated value propositions
- Conduct continuous competition analysis and market research to stay ahead of developments in the opportunity landscape
- Lead internal and external coordination across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring close coordination with engineering, mission management, finance, and contracts in the program development phase, actively preventing silos
- Continuously refine engagement roadmap based on internal strategies, mission needs, customer feedback, and competitive analysis
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree
- 3+ years of experience in business development or account management within the DoW, AI industry, or tech industrial base
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Advanced degree in science, policy, business, international affairs, or another relevant field
- Direct experience supporting sales or program development within DoW
- Experience leading capture for start-ups, government compute companies, or cloud compute business areas
- 2+ years of technical project management, systems engineering, or Government space systems acquisition experience
- Experience modernizing Government AI/ML capabilities, agent workflows, generative Artificial intelligence applications, and machine lifecycle management tailored to government while meeting stringent regulatory and security standards
- Experience partnering with cloud hyperscalers or other business-related system integrators
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing complex government sales cycles or program development, specifically in AI/ML, data analytics, and aerospace
- Familiarity with federal procurement processes and contract vehicles commonly used in the DoW
- Experience operating in or supporting classified environments
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment; must exhibit high ownership, initiative, and accountability
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This position is based in Washington DC and requires being onsite full-time - hybrid and remote work will not be considered
- Must be willing to travel to other company sites, vendors, and customers as necessary, up to 50% travel
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Must be able to hold a TS/SCI security clearance
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 3: $115,000.00 - $165,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].