---
title: 'Senior Program Manager at Kepler Communications'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-program-manager-kepler-communications-toronto-5pn2ap56p14e'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Senior Program Manager at Kepler Communications

- **Company:** Kepler Communications
- **Location:** Toronto, Canada
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/kepler/c82aa1fe-a760-468a-ad2d-3d643b9b69d8

## Job description

At Kepler Communications, we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it! Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

- Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.
- Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance—including dependents.
- Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
- Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.
- Relocation packages available for approved roles.
- $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
- Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.
- Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
- We’re a certified Great Place to Work®, seven years in a row!

As a Program Manager at Kepler, you will spearhead the development and execution of mission-critical satellite systems from concept through on-orbit validation. You will drive strategic program initiatives that strengthen global partnerships and fuel our continued growth in the space sector. In this crucial role, you will lead a cross-functional team in orchestrating on-orbit demonstrations aboard Kepler satellites, advancing our ÆTHER spacecraft platform through technical iterations, and interfacing with our hosted payload customers. You may also play a key role in the development and commissioning of our Tranche-2 satellite constellation. You will serve as a key leader, working in close collaboration with our Engineering and Operations teams to ensure on-time, on-budget execution of programs from initial kickoff through operational handover. In addition to program execution, you may play a pivotal role in proposal efforts - contributing to opportunities involving the development or enhancement of satellite systems, software, satellite commissioning, or on-orbit operations. This role is ideally suited for candidates who bring good technical depth across a range of aerospace engineering disciplines paired with strong program management acumen. The successful candidate will have a proven ability to lead high-performing teams while building effective relationships with external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

- Own and manage all aspects of program scope, schedule, cost, and risk throughout the full program lifecycle
- Serve as the primary interface with hosted payload customers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and execution
- Plan and facilitate key programmatic and technical reviews, including design, qualification, and production milestones
- Develop and maintain comprehensive program plans, key performance metrics, and regular status reports
- Drive accountability across teams by making informed decisions on scope changes and performance specifications, while providing clear, data-driven recommendations to business leadership
- Lead cross-functional coordination across engineering, operations and business development to ensure program alignment and execution
- Monitor and report on program health using key performance indicators such as Schedule Performance Index (SPI), Cost Performance Index (CPI), and Estimate at Completion (EAC)
- Collaborate closely with the Program Director, peer Program Managers, Chief Engineer, and Systems Engineering team to maintain cohesive strategy and consistent messaging
- Proactively identify execution barriers and critical risks, develop mitigation plans with relevant teams, and escalate issues when necessary
- Maintain strong communication with department leads to surface top risks, key milestones, and ensure accountability for functional deliverables
- Present program status and performance insights to internal and external stakeholders using the most effective forums and communication channels

Required Skills & Qualifications:

- 7+ years of experience in the aerospace or other high-reliability industries, with at least 4 years in a program management role
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline
- Knowledge of satellite development life cycle - proven experience in overseeing system development, from design to qualification and integration
- Strong understanding and practical use of integrated master schedules (IMS) and earned value management (EVM) techniques to track, control, and report on program execution
- Demonstrated ability to identify, assess, and mitigate technical, schedule, and cost risks to ensure successful program delivery
- Familiarity with Agile development practices and experience integrating Agile methodologies into hardware-focused program execution
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical and programmatic information
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
- Proven success in managing cross-functional teams, program budgets, and schedules to drive programs to successful completion
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build consensus across technical and non-technical teams

Bonus Points:

- Previous experience in technical leadership position such as Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead, project engineer, systems lead or technical lead
- Knowledge and / or experience in optical communications
- Experience with electronics development, flight software development and GNC/AOCS subsystem development
- PMP certification

Salary Range:  $131,911 - $181,911 CAD

Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package. Job Type: This is for a current vacancy

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at accommodation@kepler.space, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

## About Kepler Communications

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Building an internet-for-space communications infrastructure with a hybrid optical and RF satellite constellation for real-time data relay.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, $92M raised)
- **Headquarters**: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed (founded by a group of graduate students)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space communications / Satellite telecommunications
- **Target customers**: B2B, government (space agencies, defense), satellite operators (LEO and beyond)
- **Mission**: “Delivering on-orbit data at lightspeed… modernize communications to missions in LEO and beyond.”

## Products & Services
- **Kepler Network (Optical Data Relay Constellation)**: A hybrid optical and RF satellite network providing always-available, real-time connectivity for space-to-space, space-to-ground, and air-to-space communications. Supports SDA-compatible optical terminals, IP mesh networking, and hosted payloads. Data throughput up to 2.5 Gbps (Tranche 1), with 100 Gbps planned for Tranche 2.
- **RF Satellite Constellation**: A fleet of 21 RF satellites with proven flight heritage, offering global coverage for mission-critical communications.
- **Hosted Payloads & On-Orbit Compute**: Customers can host payloads on Kepler satellites and leverage on-orbit processing capabilities.
- **Priority Spectrum Holding**: Services that grant operators access to Kepler’s regulatory filings and spectrum rights.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$13M (LinkedIn estimate) | Total Funding >$200M (since 2016)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: IA Ventures (lead, Series C), Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Partners, Tribe Capital, BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund; partners include Tesat-Spacecom, General Atomics, Cailabs, Space Development Agency (SDA)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 28.7% YoY to 183 employees; launched first tranche of optical relay satellites (10 satellites) in January 2026; awarded prime position on SDA’s HALO contract (Oct 2024); demonstrated first bidirectional air-to-space optical link (Sept 2025) and space-to-ground optical laser link (May 2025); 39 active job postings (yearly increase of 160%).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical Integration**: In-house production facility for satellite design, build, test, and deployment – rare among commercial space companies.
- **Patented Technology**: Tested and deployed on 33 satellites in orbit, providing proven flight heritage.
- **SDA Compatibility**: Built to SDA optical communication standards, enabling interoperability with any SDA-compatible spacecraft and eligibility for U.S. defense contracts.
- **IP Mesh Networking**: Demonstrated on-orbit networking using standard internet protocols, allowing multiple satellites to communicate over a single ground link.
- **First-Mover in Optical Data Relay**: One of the few commercial operators with an operational optical relay network in LEO.

## Strategic Focus
- **Deploy Tranche 2** (target ~2028) with 100 Gbps optical links, backward compatible with Tranche 1 and supporting both SDA and European ESTOL standards.
- **Expand on-orbit compute capacity** with higher GPU density for edge processing.
- **Grow defense and government customer base** through SDA contracts and international partnerships.
- **Scale the optical constellation** to provide global, always-available connectivity for space missions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values drive, empathy, and agility; described as “passionate” and “collaborative” with a focus on making an impact in space communications.
- **Work Model**: Hybrid – full-time regular positions based in Toronto, Ontario. Some roles may require on-site presence for satellite production and testing.
- **Engineering Environment**: Vertical integration means engineers work across the full lifecycle – design, production, testing, and deployment – solving complex challenges in optics, RF, thermal management, and software.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapid headcount growth (28.7% YoY) and major contract wins signal strong momentum; 39 open positions across engineering, manufacturing, product, and program management.
- **Hiring Process**: Human recruiters are involved at every step; AI tools assist with initial screening but do not replace human judgment.
- **Diverse Team**: Employees across 10 countries, with a majority in Canada (65%) and growing presence in the US, UK, and Europe.

## Sources
1. [Kepler About Page](https://kepler.space/about/)
2. [Kepler Careers Page](https://kepler.space/careers/)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/kepler-communications-inc-)
4. [Kepler Jobs on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/kepler)
5. [New Space Economy Company Profile](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2026/04/24/kepler-communications-company-profile/)

## Other roles at Kepler Communications

- [Technical Project Manager - Hardware](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-project-manager-hardware-kepler-communications-toronto-w5dnvjyg6q7s) — Toronto, Canada
- [Hardware Test Engineer - Contract 3+ Months](https://feeny.ai/job/hardware-test-engineer-contract-3-months-kepler-communications-toronto-3hjy65hwrsa2) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Infrastructure Security Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-infrastructure-security-specialist-kepler-communications-toronto-v6mkbpwswdpk) — Toronto, Canada
- [Embedded Software Engineering Intern (January 2027) (4 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-software-engineering-intern-january-2027-4-months-kepler-hztcgp9fr4fn) — Toronto, Canada
- [Program Chief Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/program-chief-engineer-kepler-communications-toronto-q2jd3frjem4g) — Toronto, Canada
- [FPGA Digital Design Engineering Intern (January 2027) (4-16 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/fpga-digital-design-engineering-intern-january-2027-4-16-months-kepler-sqqxmza57sh9) — Toronto, Canada
- [Product Assurance Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/product-assurance-specialist-kepler-communications-toronto-fvdgf9jqyqqh) — Toronto, Canada
- [Electrical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-design-engineer-kepler-communications-toronto-3e5rygcfkmbs) — Toronto, Canada
- [Satellite Systems Designer - Analysis & Support](https://feeny.ai/job/satellite-systems-designer-analysis-support-kepler-communications-toronto-5280pqq3ymzc) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Satellite Systems Designer - Payload Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-satellite-systems-designer-payload-lead-kepler-communications-toronto-135awa2gek8r) — Toronto, Canada