BlackSky

Application Management Specialist (Staff) at BlackSky (Herndon, VA)

BlackSky· Herndon, VA·

Role details

Work type
Onsite

Job description

Staff Application Management Specialist

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

The Staff Specialist within the Portfolio Management Office is the primary steward for BlackSky’s enterprise applications portfolio. This role is responsible for application life cycle management, vendor selection and management, and cost budgeting and management for the enterprise application portfolio. The Staff Specialist works in tight collaboration with IT and Security, the PMO Senior Director, and various functional managers across BlackSky. This role will develop a comprehensive application management system to ensure timely and planful vendor contract development and renewals, new application implementations, application integrations, application consolidations and/or deprecations, application release updates, customizations, and related ongoing operational activities to ensure reliable application adoption and feature exploitation all with an eye toward ensuring that BlackSky is attaining maximum business value and needed scalability from its portfolio of enterprise applications. This is a hybrid role based out of our Herndon, VA corporate headquarters expected to be onsite twice a week and reports to the Senior Director, PMO.

Responsibilities:

  • As an individual contributor, serve as primary steward for the enterprise application portfolio.
  • Develop and operate a comprehensive system for full life cycle management of the enterprise applications portfolio
  • Lead vendor management and contract development, including coordination for implementations, migrations, consolidations, customizations, upgrades, and release processes.
  • Manage ongoing configuration, support, user training, feature exploitation, and timely stakeholder request fulfillment.
  • Track and manage cost budgets for the enterprise application portfolio, ensuring cost efficiency and alignment with business needs.
  • In conjunction with IT, Security and other internal stakeholders:
  • Plan and manage system integrations and other one-time system improvements, implementations, migrations or consolidations.
  • Ensure systems remain secure, reliable, and fully leveraged to support company operations and scaling.
  • Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in information systems, business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience of full life cycle enterprise application management, vendor management, contract management, and project management.
  • Hands-on experience with managing ERP systems (Costpoint, Plex), CLM, CRM (Salesforce) or similar enterprise systems (new implementations, systems integrations, upgrades, migrations, and consolidations).
  • Robust understanding of systems testing including test strategy and planning, design and development, infrastructure and data management, execution and logging, and evaluation and reporting.
  • Full SDLC understanding and requirements management competency including experience with IBM DOORs, Jama Connect, or similar requirements management tool.
  • Strong problem-solving and stakeholder communication skills.
  • Exceptionally organized with meticulous attention to detail.
  • High altruism with a strong customer service orientation. Consulting and professional services experience strongly preferred.
  • Relentless self-learner.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Value engineering mindset and cost-benefit analysis experience.
  • Familiarity with enterprise data architecture.
  • SOX compliance and controls familiarity.
  • ITIL credential (Foundation and/or Managing Professional).

Life at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:

  • Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
  • 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
  • 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
  • Employer matching donations
  • Professional development
  • Mac or PC? Your choice!
  • Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Virginia is $120,000-$160,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Virginia.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. #LI-Hybrid

EEO/Pay Transparency Statements:

dol.gov/eeopost.pdf

dol.gov

Why work at BlackSky

  • Mission-Driven Impact: Employees directly contribute to global security and situational awareness. The company states its work provides “global impact” by supporting real-world operations for national security and disaster response.
  • Rapid Growth & Professional Development: As a fast-growing, public company scaling its satellite constellation, BlackSky offers significant opportunities for advancement and responsibility, particularly in engineering, operations, and data science.
  • Culture of Speed & Innovation: The company emphasizes a lean, innovative culture where employees work alongside “bright and passionate people” on cutting-edge space technology challenges. The culture is described as one of tremendous professional growth.
  • Work-Life Balance: Employee testimonials on the careers page specifically highlight “healthy work-life balance” as a key reason they enjoy working at BlackSky.
  • Workplace Policy: The company is headquartered in Herndon, VA, with its satellite manufacturing facility in Tukwila, WA. Many roles (especially engineering) appear to be hybrid or on-site given the nature of the hardware and operations work. The careers page lists roles like Staff Engineer, Constellation Systems; Manager, People & Culture; and UX Designer, suggesting a mix of technical and corporate functions. Source: BlackSky Careers Page.

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