---
title: 'Technical Program Manager, Software at Xona Space Systems'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-software-xona-space-systems-burlingame-cn6vbrspt3f9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-04'
---

# Technical Program Manager, Software at Xona Space Systems

- **Company:** Xona Space Systems
- **Location:** Burlingame, CA
- **Compensation:** $145k–$175k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/3a8c26de-fcf1-41f8-9a5a-fa96a466da30

## Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

## Overview

As Software TPM, you'll own the execution of our software programs across navigation service, mission operations, and flight software -- working closely with our program lead and engineering teams to keep a fast-moving, highly interdependent software organization on track. Beyond running the program, you'll also build the connective tissue -- tooling, automation, and reporting. We're looking for someone who is software-first -- you think in releases, dependencies, and code -- but who is genuinely comfortable stepping into hardware territory: sitting in on bus/payload reviews, understanding integration and test constraints, and covering for the Satellite TPM when programs need an extra set of hands. If you want real ownership, proximity to the code and the constellation, and a chance to build both the program and the systems that run it, this role is for you!

## Responsibilities

- Software Schedule Ownership: Own and maintain the software development schedule across Nav Service, Mission Ops, and flight software (GNC, FSW, payload core), tracking progress against milestones, managing critical path, and keeping the program honest -- especially through the transition from Design/Build/Test into on-orbit operations
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Serve as the program hub across Nav Service, Mission Ops, and flight software teams -- translating technical progress into shared plans and clear accountability. Partner tightly with the Satellite TPM to keep software and hardware programs in sync at every shared interface (software readiness, bus interfaces, on-orbit test campaigns).
- Release & Dependency Management: Support release management and dependency tracking across all software teams, ensuring releases are coordinated, tested, and deployed without surprises to downstream teams or live operations
- System Automation & Tooling: Identify manual operational overhead across teams and build the lightweight tooling, bots, and integrations to eliminate it -- connecting platforms like GitHub/GitLab, Wrike/Linear, Teams, and monitoring tools into a single source of operational truth
- Risk & Issue Resolution: Surface risks early, maintain the risk register, and work directly with technical leads to resolve blockers before they hit the schedule. Escalate to program leadership with context and a recommended path forward.
- Program Reporting: Prepare and deliver regular software program status to leadership, maintaining a clear and accurate picture of schedule health, open risks, delivery predictability, and upcoming decisions -- automating this reporting wherever possible so status is always current, not just current when someone asks
- Process Building: Help develop lightweight, effective program management processes suited to a small team moving fast -- minimizing meeting bloat through automation and async workflows, with real input into how TPM operates at Xona
- Hardware Fluency & Flex Coverage: Maintain working fluency in bus and payload development -- enough to sit credibly in integration and test reviews, understand how hardware milestones affect your software schedule, and step in on hardware program coordination or backfill the Satellite TPM when the program needs it

Required Qualifications

- 4–7 years of program or project management experience in complex software development, with meaningful exposure to aerospace, robotics, or another hardware-adjacent technical field
- Direct experience program-managing software teams through both active development and live/operational phases -- you understand that priorities, cadence, and risk look different once something is running in production (or in orbit)
- Strong systems thinker who can track interdependencies across multiple software workstreams -- and their interfaces with hardware -- without losing the critical path
- Comfortable operating in hardware environments -- you don't need to have owned a bus or payload schedule, but you've been close to spacecraft, robotics, or other complex hardware programs that avionics, RF, or integration/test
- Proficient enough as a programmer (Python, TypeScript/Node.js, or Go) to build and deploy lightweight internal tools, bots, and automations yourself
- Self-directed and comfortable operating with limited oversight
- Clear communicator who can work credibly with engineers and summarize status cleanly for leadership

## Preferred Qualifications

- Familiarity with GNSS, PNT systems, or mission operations concepts (telemetry, commanding, ground segment software, on-orbit anomaly response)
- Experience building bots, custom integrations across developer toolchains (GitHub, Linear/Wrike, Teams, Datadog, AWS/GCP), or internal developer portals
- Hands-on experience with satellite bus subsystems or RF/navigation payloads, or having worked through a full satellite program cycle from PDR/CDR through integration, test, and launch/operations
- Hands-on knowledge of workflow automation platforms (Temporal, n8n, Airflow, or similar)
- Prior experience as a software engineer or DevOps engineer before moving into technical program management
- PMP, Agile, or other PM certifications (nice to have, not a substitute for real program experience)

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

## About Xona Space Systems

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems
- **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT
- **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.”

## Products & Services
- **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update.
- **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools.
- **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026).
  - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.).
  - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026.
  - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space.

## Competitive Advantages
- **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT.
- **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS.
- **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost.
- **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites.
- **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies).
- **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments.
- **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing.

## Why Work Here
- **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration.
- **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k).
- **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off.
- **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated).
- **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia.

## Sources
1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/)
2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers)
3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems)

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