--- title: 'Staff Cost Account Manager - Talon Program at Stratolaunch' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-cost-account-manager-talon-program-stratolaunch-mojave-hpnrvyqr6tbc' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-08' --- # Staff Cost Account Manager - Talon Program at Stratolaunch - **Company:** Stratolaunch - **Location:** Mojave, CA - **Posted:** 2026-10-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/stratolaunch/jobs/5440673008 ## Job description Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security. To enable these great efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Staff Cost Account Manager (CAM) with 10+ years of relevant experience. This role is responsible for the planning, management, and control of cost, schedule, and earned value performance across complex aerospace development and test programs. The CAM will partner closely with Program Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, proactive risk identification, and consistent execution of cost‑control strategies. A successful candidate is comfortable working with large budgets, evolving technical requirements, and fast‑paced, multi‑disciplinary teams. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration - Serve as the primary cost responsibility owner for assigned control accounts, collaborating with engineering and program leads to ensure alignment across cost, schedule, and technical scope - Mentor cost analysts and early‑career CAMs on EVMS principles, forecasting, and financial discipline - Represent the cost function during internal reviews, business rhythms, and customer engagements Cost Control, Planning & Execution - Develop, maintain, and manage control account plans (CAPs), including work breakdown structure (WBS) mapping, baseline planning, and resource allocation - Lead earned value management processes, including variance analysis, estimate‑to‑complete (ETC) revisions, and monthly performance reporting - Monitor actual costs, commitments, and accruals to ensure accuracy and alignment with program objectives - Drive integrated cost/schedule planning with program schedulers to maintain realistic, executable plans - Identify cost performance trends and develop mitigation or recovery plans Financial Forecasting & Reporting - Produce regular cost performance reports, variance explanations, and program financial briefing materials - Support development of the program’s long‑range financial plan, quarterly re‑forecasts, and budget updates - Ensure compliance with EVMS standards, contract requirements, and internal financial governance Customer, Stakeholder & Contract Support - Support customer‑facing cost reviews, contract audits, and negotiations related to cost adjustments or scope changes - Partner with Contracts and Finance to validate billing milestones, funding profiles, and revenue forecasting - Support classified program cost operations as required Risk Management & Compliance - Lead cost‑related risk and opportunity identification, analysis, and mitigation planning - Ensure all cost controls align with regulatory, contractual, and company cost‑accounting standards - Partner with engineering and test leads to evaluate cost‑related risk impacts associated with design changes, manufacturing challenges, supply chain constraints, and flight‑test uncertainties Organizational Contribution - Help advance cost‑management best practices and tools across the organization - Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that streamline reporting, improve forecasting accuracy, and enhance financial insight for leadership Travel - Domestic travel as required to support program and business objectives Required Qualifications - Minimum 10 years of experience in cost control, earned value management, financial planning and analysis, or program controls within aerospace, defense, or high‑technology environments - Demonstrated success managing complex development or test program budgets exceeding $30M annually - Strong understanding of earned value management principles (EVMS), WBS development, baseline planning, and financial variance analysis - Experience supporting engineering teams, supply chain, and program management in a matrixed environment - Ability to interpret technical scope and translate it into accurate cost plans and forecasts - Advanced proficiency with MS Excel and financial modeling; experience with EVMS and/or ERP tools (COBRA, Empower, Deltek, or similar) - Strong communication, facilitation, and executive‑level briefing skills - Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance ## Preferred Qualifications - Aerospace development, test operations, or launch vehicle program experience - Experience supporting government cost reporting (CPR/IPMR, CFSR) - Familiarity with aircraft operations or hypersonic test environments - PMP, EVMP, or advanced cost management certification - Experience supporting classified programs or secure environments Education and Experience - Staff-level ($119,000-$172,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) or higher in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field and 10+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable - This position is located in Mojave, CA - Relocation eligible to local area - Travel estimated to be approximately 10% or less - 9/80 schedule #LI-onsite ## #LI-AM1 Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews. [Benefits](https://www.stratolaunch.com/careers/benefits/) and our https://www.stratolaunch.com/careers/locations/: - Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs) - Paid Maternity and Parental Leave - 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500 - Tuition reimbursement This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties. Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles.  The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks. Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers. Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States. Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.  For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions. Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law : [https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf](https://usg02.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dol.gov%2Fofccp%2Fregs%2Fcompliance%2Fposters%2Fpdf%2Feeopost.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CJustin.Bunkis%40stratolaunch.com%7Cc995cc1cb2d54cb9e84f08dd8369f5d0%7C6b1ba37e5a954845af92bbebaa34f2bf%7C0%7C0%7C638811213293596097%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HA1xZ73OqtOavsYHMEB53oSEKk%2FQdrb0FNLHeuEPqjg%3D&reserved=0) ## About Stratolaunch ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Stratolaunch designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to provide the U.S. and its allies with routine, affordable access to hypersonic flight testing and space. - **Entity Type**: Private (total funding $24.7M; recent grant and private equity rounds) - **Headquarters**: Mojave, California, United States - **Founded**: 2011 - **Founders**: Not listed in available sources ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing – hypersonic test technology and air-launch services. - **Target customers**: U.S. government agencies (Missile Defense Agency, Department of Defense), defense contractors, and commercial aerospace companies. - **Mission**: To advance a national imperative by enabling routine access to the hypersonic environment, accelerating technology development, and validating system performance through flight data. ## Products & Services - **Roc (Air-Launch Platform)**: The world’s largest aircraft by wingspan, used as a mobile launch pad to deploy hypersonic test vehicles from high altitude. - **Talon-A**: A reusable, air-launched hypersonic test vehicle capable of sustained Mach 5+ flight; provides critical flight data for technology maturation. - **Hypersonic Flight Testing Services**: End-to-end mission planning, payload integration, flight operations, and data analysis for government and commercial customers. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metrics**: - Annual revenue: ~$28.7M (source: LinkedIn) - Total funding: $24.7M (led by Missile Defense Agency grant, January 2025; plus a private equity round in January 2026) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Department of Defense; acquired WINDWRIGHT, LLC. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 15.3% YoY to 253 employees. - Active job postings increased 176.2% YoY. - Received a $90.8M contract award under MACH-TB 2.0 Task 3 for air-launched capability test vehicles. - Conducted a hypersonic test flight with the Missile Defense Agency. ## Competitive Advantages - **Unique Air-Launch Capability**: Operates Roc, the only aircraft of its size, enabling flexible, over-the-horizon launch of hypersonic vehicles without ground range constraints. - **Vertical Integration**: In-house design, manufacturing, and flight test capabilities reduce timelines and allow rapid iteration. - **Government Trust**: Multiple contract awards from MDA and DoD demonstrate confidence in Stratolaunch’s technology and execution. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling hypersonic testing capacity to meet growing national security demand. - Maturing Talon-A into a reusable, operational vehicle for repeatable, cost-effective hypersonic flights. - Expanding customer base beyond the MDA to include other defense agencies and commercial hypersonic developers. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values include “Safety Always,” “Be courageous & bold,” “Strength in humility,” and “Be the teammate you’d want to have.” Emphasis on hands-on, cross‑disciplinary learning alongside top aerospace engineers. - **Work Environment**: Majority on‑site (57 of 64 current positions are on‑site); limited hybrid/remote options. HQ in Mojave, CA, with additional offices in Washington, D.C., and Huntsville, AL. - **Notable Perks**: Direct involvement in cutting‑edge hypersonic technology with national importance; exposure to multiple engineering disciplines; safety‑first, ego‑free culture. - **Compensation Example**: Propulsion Technician ~$65,890/yr; Executive Assistant ~$88,580/yr (LinkedIn estimates). - **Employer Rating**: 3.7/5 (55 reviews) – Compensation rated 4.0/5, Culture 3.5/5, Work‑Life 2.8/5. ## Sources 1. [stratolaunch.com](https://www.stratolaunch.com/) 2. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratolaunch) 3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/stratolaunch) 4. 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