User Terminal Program Manager, Mil-Ka

As User Terminal (UT) Program Manager, Mil-Ka, this position will join the User Terminal development team responsible for the development, integration, qualification, delivery, and deployment of Mil-Ka user terminal solutions supporting Telesat Lightspeed government and defence programs.
The UT Program Manager, Mil-Ka will lead the programmatic execution of external vendor terminal development programs and serve as a primary interface between Telesat and its user terminal suppliers. The role will coordinate closely with Telesat engineering, product management, systems engineering, PMO, procurement, contracts, and other stakeholders to ensure terminal solutions meet technical, schedule, cost, quality, and program objectives.
This role requires a seasoned program manager with demonstrated experience managing complex satellite communications or similar hardware/software development programs through design, integration, verification, manufacturing readiness, delivery, and deployment. Experience developing satellite communications equipment or user terminals for government, defence, or other mission-critical applications is highly desirable.
Success in this role requires a proactive, results-driven program manager with a high degree of initiative and strong communication skills, able to drive execution across cross-functional organizations and external suppliers while operating effectively in a complex government program environment.

Main Responsibilities

- Lead and drive execution of Mil-Ka user terminal development and integration programs, working with external terminal vendors and Telesat technical teams from requirements definition through design, integration, verification, manufacturing readiness, delivery, and deployment.

- Serve as a primary programmatic interface with Mil-Ka terminal vendors, establishing clear expectations for scope, deliverables, schedule, technical milestones, risks, actions, and contractual commitments.

- Own end-to-end program planning and execution for assigned terminal programs, including contracts, statements of work, work breakdown structures, integrated schedules, milestones, budgets, risks, opportunities, dependencies, deliverables, and executive reporting.

- Work closely with Product Management, Systems Engineering, User Terminal Engineering, software, RF/antenna, network, security, and other technical teams to translate program and mission requirements into executable vendor development plans.

- Drive vendor performance against technical, schedule, cost, quality, and delivery commitments, identifying issues and dependencies early and coordinating recovery plans or escalation when required.

- Plan and coordinate key program and engineering lifecycle reviews, including requirements reviews, design reviews, integration and test readiness activities, verification events, manufacturing readiness reviews, and other contractual milestones.

- Coordinate user terminal integration, verification, qualification, and interoperability activities across vendor and Telesat teams to support readiness for operational deployment.

- Support the definition, negotiation, and execution of development, supply, integration, and support agreements in partnership with Telesat engineering, procurement, legal, commercial, and contracts organizations.

- Manage program interfaces and dependencies between the user terminal development effort and the broader Mil-Ka solution, including network integration, software, ground infrastructure, logistics, training, support, and deployment activities where applicable.

- Ensure contractual deliverables, documentation, review packages, test results, action items, risks, decisions, and technical dependencies are tracked through closure.

- Develop and maintain concise program management artifacts, dashboards, schedules, risk registers, and status reporting that provide clear visibility into program health, key decisions, emerging risks, and required leadership actions.

Education and Experience Required

- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, program management, or a related discipline. A technical background in communications systems, satellite communications, RF systems, electronics, or related fields is preferred.

- Minimum of 6 years of program or project management experience in a complex STEM environment, including experience within satellite communications, aerospace, defence, telecommunications, or a comparable technology sector.

- Demonstrated experience managing external suppliers through complex hardware/software product development, system integration, qualification, manufacturing, and delivery programs.

- Experience with government or defence satellite communications systems, military user terminals, tactical communications equipment, or other mission-critical communications systems is strongly preferred.

- Experience managing programs involving government customers, defence contractors, or government-specific technical and programmatic requirements is an asset.

- Strong understanding of satellite user terminal architectures, with sufficient technical depth to work effectively with engineering organizations across RF, antennas, modems, networking, software, electronics, and system integration.

- Experience managing requirements, statements of work, contractual deliverables, design reviews, verification activities, acceptance milestones, and supplier performance.

- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent and interdependent workstreams while maintaining accountability across geographically distributed internal teams and external suppliers.

- Proven experience identifying and managing program risks, schedule dependencies, technical issues, cost pressures, and design trade-offs, with the ability to clearly communicate impacts and recommended actions to leadership.

- Strong working knowledge of program and project management tools, including Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling tools such as Primavera, as well as Jira or similar work-management platforms.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across technical, programmatic, supplier, government, and executive stakeholders.

- PMP certification and/or a Master’s degree or MBA is a plus.

Decision Making and Supervision

- Establishes priorities and drives execution across multiple internal and supplier workstreams required to meet Mil-Ka user terminal program commitments.

- Makes programmatic decisions within delegated authority and facilitates timely technical, contractual, or leadership decisions when issues exceed that authority.

- Independently identifies emerging risks, schedule impacts, resource constraints, and cross-program dependencies and drives appropriate mitigation and escalation.

- Highly self-directed, with the initiative and ownership mindset required to move complex programs forward in an environment where requirements and priorities may evolve.

Supervision Exercised

- There is no direct reporting staff but this role is expected to lead multi-disciplinary project teams and/or provide technical assistance or guidance to other engineers or specialists;

- Supervision of suppliers/contractor during supplier facing activities.

Working Conditions

- This position will be based out of either the Ottawa, ON or Bethesda, MD office.

- Hybrid (4 days in office, 1 day remote), subject to work needs.

- Working conditions are generally typical of an office environment.

- Periodic travel to supplier and Telesat locations is anticipated.

For Ottawa, ON candidates, successful candidate must be able to work in Canada and obtain clearance under the Canadian Controlled Goods program (CGP).