Kepler is seeking a Technical Project Manager with a foundation in Mechanical Systems and hardware development to lead the delivery of complex engineering efforts for spacecraft applications. This role is central to Kepler’s mission of building a scalable platform in space, where hardware systems are critical to the fundamental operation of the system. Reporting to the Mechanical Engineering Manager, you will own cost, schedule, and team coordination, working across disciplines to ensure we deliver reliable, high-performance systems that meet mission needs.
Expected Time Breakdown:
30% – Scope, schedule, and cost management
40% – Cross-functional coordination and integration
30% – Risk management, stakeholder communication, and process adherence
Key Responsibilities:
Lead an integrated product team owning the design, development and delivery of subsystem units
Manage cost, schedule, and scope from concept through delivery
Establish priorities and manage execution across assigned work packages
Plan and lead milestone, design and readiness reviews
Maintain alignment between program-level objectives and day-to-day engineering work
Drive issue resolution, risk mitigation, and schedule recovery where needed
Ensure adherence to engineering processes, quality standards, and system-level requirements
Coordinate across disciplines (systems, software, hardware, QA, integration) to ensure consistent progress and clear technical direction
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, or related)
2+ years in mechanical design engineering (or equivalent)
3+ years as a technical project manager, preferably in space, aerospace, automotive, or similar regulated environments
Experience leading cross-functional development efforts (mechanical, electrical, and software) from concept through production, with a strong understanding of the full development lifecycle
Solid grasp of development, verification, and validation practices, including test planning and quality gates
Proficient in schedule management, cost estimation, and completion tracking (MS Project, Jira, or equivalent)
Effective decision-maker and communicator across engineering, PMO, and leadership teams
Bonus Points:
Experience with design for space, including space industry program development phases and qualification requirements
Knowledge of agile and classical project management principles, especially as they apply to hardware development
Familiarity with earned value methodologies
