Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Description

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate as we deploy funds from a recent Series A.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands-on, fast-moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close-knit, innovative team.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Are you looking for an opportunity to be part of an executive team in a fast-moving space company delivering technical solutions for national security, exploration and commercial missions that are shaping the next chapter of space history? We are looking for a passionate, practically wired, team-oriented, technically gifted space professional that can boldly predict trends and needs in the future space industry to generate and disseminate Agile’s technological vision. 

Responsibilities

Strategic/Business Development:

• Mentor and grow an industry leading propulsion engineering team, expanding technical capability and technical prowess.
• Foster and maintain a productive engineering culture.
• Develop and evangelize Agile’s Technology Roadmap, internally and externally, creating a clear technical vision, focusing and inspiring Agile’s staff and creating a compelling product offering to position Agile to achieve its strategic objectives.
• Support the business development process by ensuring convergence on the best technical baseline and programmatic solution (or no-bid decision) for each opportunity and a sufficient engineering definition.
• Responsible for the prioritization, budgeting, and planning of Internal Research and Development (IRAD) investments. Together with the COO, support execution of specific IRAD projects and initiatives.
• Support the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with return on investment (ROI) analysis for the business area’s strategic products, programs, and IRAD.
• With the CEO and CCO, identify and support the pursuit of new technology funding opportunities with government customers and strategic partners.
• Monitor, predict and analyze market information, projections, shifts, and competition. Make recommendations for technology, product and marketing strategy in coordination with CCO and CEO.
• Support CCO in the formulation and maintenance of product and services marketing collateral.
• Support the BD Team with technical support for white papers, RFIs, and RFPs, including Cost, Schedule and Risk review.
• In coordination with the rest of the executive team, provide internal and external thought leadership for Agile staff and the wider industry supporting and generating social media, technical papers, white papers and articles.
• Develop and cultivate relationships with academic, government, and industry technical thought leaders and partners. Represent Agile as the technical ambassador in relevant conferences, technical thought leadership and industry white papers.

Operations/Programmatic: 

• Maintain oversight of all technical matters in support of products and services.
• Provide oversight of independent programs peer reviews for key program milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, IRR, etc.) for customer and IRAD programs.
• Similar to the technology and product road-mapping, work with the COO and CCO to maintain product life cycle plans driving such decisions as continued project support investment and retirement.
• Interface with manufacturing and test operations to drive design-for-manufacturability, rapid prototyping, quality control, and production scaling.
• Refine and manage Agile’s product definition and technical requirements process from proposal creation through product delivery.
• Champion and chair the Technical Risk Management Program and strive to drive Agile’s quality system ethos of speed and continuous improvement throughout all business functions.
• Oversee Agile intellectual property, creating and maintaining the IP strategy, prioritization, process, preparation and submission.
• Identify and pursue, in coordination with COO and CCO, potential infrastructure and product support initiatives from federal and state governments.
• Attend and support the quarterly ASI Board of Director meetings.
• Influence IT, cyber and digital infrastructure requirements for Agile and have ultimate responsibility for ongoing digital transformation and exploit of new capabilities.
• Select and manage Agile’s external technical advisors and consultants.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree or above in Engineering, Science, or related field (Note:  Bachelors’ Degree and relative work experience may substitute for required education.)
• 20 years’ experience in aerospace industry, NASA, DoD, or other government agencies in the space domain with accompanying wide contact network.
• Familiarity a minimum but specific experience with propulsion technologies preferred
• Experience with commercial and government contracting
• Broad knowledge of Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, Manufacturing, Testing, Operations, and Business Development
• Experience managing space flight hardware programs
• Frequent and experienced speaker at aerospace conferences
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with chemical propulsion product and/or systems
• PhD in Engineering, Science, or related technology field
• Experience in obtaining and holding technical patents
• Experience leading an engineering organization 
• Experience developing engineering processes, systems, and tools
• Experience with design, fabrication, test, and operation of chemical propulsion 
• Experience with additive manufacturing
• Experience with start-ups and commercial financing
• Current TS/SCI Security Clearance

Salary Range: $175,000 - $250,000 

Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and company equity.

Employment Type: Full-Time/Exempt

Location & Travel Requirements

The ideal candidate would be permanently located in Durango, CO but hybrid arrangements with an ability and willingness to travel regularly to Durango and to customers, meetings etc. will be considered. 

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

What You'll Love About Us

Agile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%.

We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, region, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Agile, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the perfect fit for this role or another opportunity with us.

Reasonable Accommodation

At AGILE, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.

Posting Timeline: This position will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will continue to accept applications until the role is filled. Early applications are encouraged, as reviews and interviews may begin during the posting period.

Recruitment Notice: Agile Space Industries is not partnering with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Please do not contact our staff directly regarding open positions. All candidates must apply through our official application process to be considered.

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