Satellite Software Program Manager
Loft Orbital
Operations
San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted on Feb 5, 2026
Wanna Join the Adventure?
Loft Orbital is seeking a Satellite Software Program Manager to lead delivery of flight software and ground software in support of customer contracts. This role operates across matrixed and/or independent product teams, translating customer commitments into executable plans and ensuring software delivery aligns with AI&T (assembly, integration, and test) and spacecraft-level milestones.
This is a true program role — accountable for schedule, integration, and delivery, not just coordination.
About this role:
- Software Program Ownership:
- Own delivery of software scope across customer programs with teams including in Spacecraft Deployment, Software Solutions, Test Infrastructure, Customer Operations Engineer, Embedded Software, and Software Products
- Translate contract requirements into executable software plans
- Ensure alignment between software roadmaps and program milestones
- Planning & Scheduling:
- Build and maintain software schedules integrated into the program IMS
- Manage dependencies between software, hardware, AIT, and mission operations
- Provide inputs to and ensure alignment of sprint-level execution while maintaining long-range delivery credibility
- Cross-Team Execution:
- Work effectively with matrixed product personnel, independent functional teams, or dedicated program teams
- Resolve priority conflicts between product and program needs
- Ensure software readiness for integration, test, and launch
- Risk & Delivery Management:
- Identify software delivery risks early
- Coordinate mitigation, re-planning, and recovery actions
- Represent software execution status to customers and leadership
- Leadership & Influence:
- Act as a trusted execution partner to software engineering leadership
- Mentor junior PMs or TPMs
- Shape how Loft integrates software delivery into overall program execution
- Software Program Ownership & Customer Interface:
- Serve as the primary customer interface for software execution, delivery, and readiness
- Translate customer contractual commitments into executable software plans
- Ensure software delivery aligns with customer milestones, acceptance criteria, and integration events
- Represent software execution status in customer reviews and leadership forums
- Contract Administration for Software Scope:
- Own contract execution for software-related scope across customer programs
- Track software deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria
- In coordination with Customer Operations Engineer, perform impact assessments for software scope changes, including cost, schedule, and risk
- Ensure alignment between product roadmaps and customer contractual commitments
- Cross-Functional & Commercial Alignment (additive):
- Work closely with hardware PMs to ensure integrated contract compliance
- Partner with Legal, Finance, and Product to manage change control and invoicing milestones
- Ensure customer commitments do not outpace executable capacity
Must Haves:
- 7+ years experience managing complex software or software-heavy programs/projects
- Experience delivering flight software, ground software, or safety-critical systems
- Strong understanding of Agile execution and long-range program planning
- Proven ability to operate in matrixed organizations
- Experience with the Atlassian product suite (Jira, Confluence, Jira Service Management)
Nice to Haves:
- Experience with spacecraft flight software
- Familiarity with hardware-software integration cycles
- Experience managing software delivery across multiple concurrent programs
- Proficient with Jira Global Configuration
Some of Our Awesome Benefits:
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
- Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
- 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
- Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
- 401(k) plan and equity options
- Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
- International exposure to our team in France
- Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
- Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support
- Off-sites and many social events and celebrations
- Relocation assistance when applicable
*Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes.
Who We Are
Loft: Space Made Simple.
Founded in 2017, Loft provides governments, companies, and research institutions with a fast, reliable, and simple way to deploy missions in orbit.
We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering end-to-end missions as a service across Earth observation, IoT connectivity, on-orbit AI, national security missions, and more. Leveraging our existing space infrastructure and an extensive inventory of satellite buses, Loft is reducing years-long integration and launch timelines to months. With more than 30 missions flown, Loft’s flight heritage and proven technologies enable customers to focus on their mission objectives.
With a growing fleet on track to reach 30 satellites by 2027, we are scaling up quickly across our offices in San Francisco, CA | Golden, CO | and Toulouse, France to meet accelerating demand for space infrastructure.
As an international company your resume will be reviewed by people across our offices so please attach a copy in English.
130000 - 170000 USD a year
State law requires us to tell you the base compensation range for this role, which is $130,000 - $170,000 per year, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we evaluate individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs. Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.