Program Manager
US$125,000 – US$170,000 / yr base salary
Posted 7 Jul 2026
Advertised as “Program Manager, Pharma”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 6+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- On-Site
- Visa sponsorship
- Not offered
| Base salary | US$125,000 – US$170,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyBiochemistry, Chemistry, Life Sciences (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
CertificationsProject Management Professional, PgMP
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About this Role
Our pharmaceutical team is looking for a highly motivated and creative Pharma Program Manager who will manage efforts in driving pharma programs to completion and report to the VP, Pharma Program Management, This is an opportunity in an exciting area of growth for Varda, the role will shape Varda’s product culture and will play a significant role in establishing the low Earth orbit economy.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with program leads to develop and track schedules and milestones, identifying critical path activities and dependencies.
- Support pharma programs and meetings: set agendas, document decisions, assign owners, and follow up on action items.
- Establish program objectives, define scope, and align with departmental strategy.
- Ensure project deliverables meet expectations for quality, cost, and schedule.
- Partner with technical leads to identify and manage program risks and issues, while also proposing mitigation strategies and maintaining a risk register with mitigation plans.
- Align with technical leads to allocate resources, control costs, and ensure efficient use of personnel and resources.
- Communication of project status via SmartSheet, reports, and dashboards.