Project Manager (I, II, or Senior)

Space Tango is an innovative space technology small business based in Lexington, Ky. Space Tango's mission is to manufacture health and technology products in space that create value and transformational solutions.  Space Tango provides space-based automated facilities and payloads to support research and development and small-scale manufacturing needs of our partners and customers in the Low Earth Orbit environment and beyond.  As a leader in automated systems, Space Tango pursues pathways to on-orbit production.  Our vision is to inspire, innovate, and create a better future for humanity by utilizing the environment of space. 

Position Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for leading the successful execution of multiple technical projects through the Space Tango lifecycle. This role focuses on external-facing coordination, partner communication, and portfolio alignment—ensuring clear, consistent communication of project status, milestone progress, and readiness to customers, partners, and internal leadership. 

The ideal candidate brings strong project management experience in a technical environment, with a focus on stakeholder management, communication, and coordination across complex programs, and is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving organization. 

This position will work on-site in Lexington, KY and travel as required.

Key Responsibilities 

• Oversee a portfolio of assigned projects to ensure alignment with partner expectations and milestone progress, including schedule development and resource management 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external partners, customers, and interface  organizations, including NASA, NIH, NSF, and ISS National Lab 
• Lead all external communications, including program updates, milestone progress, risks, and overall readiness status across multiple projects  
• Lead preparation and execution of external reviews and high-visibility program milestones, ensuring all deliverables are complete, aligned, and presentation-ready 
• Develop and deliver high-quality presentations and program materials for partners, sponsors, and executive leadership 
• Translate technical progress and risks into clear, concise updates tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences 
• Partner closely with Lead Engineers to align on technical status and program execution 
• Collaborate with the Business Planning & Controls Analyst to stay aligned on schedules, resources, and overall program health 
• Support coordination of integration, launch readiness, and mission execution activities from a program communication perspective 
• Ensure alignment and consistency of messaging across internal teams and external stakeholders, serving as the bridge between technical execution and partner communication 

• 3–8+ years of experience in project or program management, preferably in a technical or engineering-driven environment  
• Experience supporting hardware development, R&D, aerospace, spaceflight, government, or other regulated industries is a plus; candidates from other complex, cross-functional environments will also be considered  
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and external stakeholders (scope and complexity will scale with position level) 
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, advanced degree a plus 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information for diverse audiences 
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, with attention to detail and ability to operate in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment 
• Proficiency in MS Office and project management software; MS Project experience preferred 

Space Tango is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space Tango is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

This position may require access to technology and information subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Employment is contingent upon the ability to obtain any necessary government authorizations to access and handle controlled technology and data. Candidates must be able to comply with all applicable export control regulations.