Senior Project Manager
Job Location:
Job Location:
Chantilly, VA - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Monthly Salary:
Posted on:
Yesterday
Posted on:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years the NRO has developed acquired launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for Americas advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at .
Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
Where You Will Work
This is a senior program management leadership position in the Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate (SIGINT) Space Systems Program Office (SSPO) Space and Launch (S&L) Division. The Senior Project Manager for over a billion-dollar Collection Segment (CS) Major System Acquisition (MSA) is responsible for supporting the MSA Program Manager (PM) and Deputy Program Manager (DPM) by directing the daily development integration test verification launch and on-orbit operations validation of this critical intelligence collection sensor and associated space vehicle ground accommodations and external interfaces. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for overseeing trades adjudicating interface issues and optimizing performance across the CS.
SSPO requires a top-performing government civilian to bring a proactive and energetic approach to managing a technically and programmatically complex high-visibility space and ground acquisition within tight schedule constraints. The selectee will need a strong understanding of the tradeoffs and informed risk-taking needed to ensure on-time delivery of the critical capability in order to avoid an Intelligence Community and Department of War mission gap.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GGS-15) non-supervisory Program Management occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series click here.
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.
This is a full-time position that is open from June 22 2026 through July 22 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on July 22 2026.
Who May Apply
What You Will Be Doing
What You Need
Required:
Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum Merit Hiring Plan dated May 29 2025 not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing see Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume and visit theResume Help Center.
Other Information
Location
Chantilly VA 20151
Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).
Salary
This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Securitys (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay visit salary range for the Washington DC area: GGS-15 $167446 - $197200
**This position is a senior level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG S-15 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step.Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at managements discretion.
Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Veterans Preference
DoW Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC in accordance with the procedures provided in DoW Instruction 1400.25 Vol 2005 DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans preference as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race color religion sex (including pregnancy and gender identity) national origin political affiliation sexual orientation marital status disability genetic information age membership in an employee organization retaliation parental status military service or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job the work environment or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
Privacy Act Notice
Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974
For sixty years the NRO has developed acquired launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for Americas advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at .
Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
- You must be a U.S. Citizen
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
- You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
- You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations
Where You Will Work
This is a senior program management leadership position in the Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate (SIGINT) Space Systems Program Office (SSPO) Space and Launch (S&L) Division. The Senior Project Manager for over a billion-dollar Collection Segment (CS) Major System Acquisition (MSA) is responsible for supporting the MSA Program Manager (PM) and Deputy Program Manager (DPM) by directing the daily development integration test verification launch and on-orbit operations validation of this critical intelligence collection sensor and associated space vehicle ground accommodations and external interfaces. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for overseeing trades adjudicating interface issues and optimizing performance across the CS.
SSPO requires a top-performing government civilian to bring a proactive and energetic approach to managing a technically and programmatically complex high-visibility space and ground acquisition within tight schedule constraints. The selectee will need a strong understanding of the tradeoffs and informed risk-taking needed to ensure on-time delivery of the critical capability in order to avoid an Intelligence Community and Department of War mission gap.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GGS-15) non-supervisory Program Management occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series click here.
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.
This is a full-time position that is open from June 22 2026 through July 22 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on July 22 2026.
Who May Apply
- This position is open to the public.
- Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
- Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
- The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
- This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.
What You Will Be Doing
- Assist the Program Manager in all aspects of the execution of a billion dollar MSA. Monitors contract progress and expenditures against plans.
- Manages and assesses progress including cost schedule and performance supporting baseline requirements by applying program management methods and procedures.
- Develops executes and monitors risk management strategies to address areas of concern or potential gaps.
- Plans organizes and coordinates activities with functional specialists including contracting engineering manufacturing program controls configuration/data management test and operations support. Continually studies reviews and evaluates program progress.
- Works closely and substantially with the program Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR) and prime contractor to ensure program objectives are achieved within stringent cost schedule and technical performance requirements.
- Provides authoritative recommendations briefings and other formal and informal feedback and status to management on all aspects of program status contractor technical performance.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What You Need
Required:
- Bachelors degree in engineering computer science mathematics physics or equivalent technical program from an accredited university
- Program management space systems development and acquisition experience
- Demonstrated experience in a breadth of programmatic skills to include program management risk management systems engineering and program budget formulation/execution
- Demonstrated ability to develop programmatic solutions that achieve acquisition goals that result in intelligence impacts
- Demonstrated interpersonal collaborative team-building and leadership skills with proven ability to effectively execute a highly complex acquisition program
- Experience working with the US Intelligence Community to include civilian and DoD organizations including knowledge of the IC/DoD budgeting process
- Experience with satellite command & control data architectures communications architectures network design large-scale hardware & software development ICD 503 compliance integration & test Enterprise readiness and test activities transition to operations factory support of operational ground hardware/software systems.
- Advanced academic degree Engineering Science Technology or Mathematics or other related technical degree or equivalent work experience.
Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum Merit Hiring Plan dated May 29 2025 not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing see Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume and visit theResume Help Center.
Other Information
- Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours which may include evenings weekends and/or holidays.
- Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
- Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
- Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions:If selected for a DAWIA coded position the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
- Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness and/or career development.
- Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
- Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.
Location
Chantilly VA 20151
Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).
Salary
This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Securitys (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay visit salary range for the Washington DC area: GGS-15 $167446 - $197200
**This position is a senior level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG S-15 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step.Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at managements discretion.
Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Veterans Preference
DoW Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC in accordance with the procedures provided in DoW Instruction 1400.25 Vol 2005 DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans preference as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race color religion sex (including pregnancy and gender identity) national origin political affiliation sexual orientation marital status disability genetic information age membership in an employee organization retaliation parental status military service or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job the work environment or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
- An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
- An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
- An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits such as details training and office-sponsored events.
Privacy Act Notice
Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) helps the US practice the first rule of warfare: Know thine enemy. Called the "nation's eyes and ears in space," the Department of Defense agency designs, builds, and operates US reconnaissance satellites for the Central Intelligence Agency and ... View more
