Senior Manager, Astronaut Engagement

Reporting to the Vice President, Astronaut Office & Experience, as Senior Manager, Astronaut Engagement, you will shape and deliver how Virgin Galactic engages with the Astronaut community-from initial onboarding through spaceflight and into the post-flight alumni community. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, combining thoughtful engagement planning with hands-on delivery.

As part of the Astronaut Office & Experience team, you will help build a strong sense of community and confidence across a global group of customers preparing for spaceflight. You will own key engagement touchpoints, communications, and systems that support a consistent, high-quality experience while continuously evolving how we connect with and support our astronauts. Support the company strategy by holding yourself and one another accountable for getting the work done.

This role is based in our Tustin, California office, with potential travel to Spaceport America (New Mexico) and the SpaceShip Factory (Arizona).

Responsibilities

• Own the astronaut engagement journey - execute the astronaut engagement strategy, from the first step of welcoming them into the astronaut community, through spaceflight preparation and into the astronaut alumni community.
• Engage the astronaut community - build and foster strong individual relationships across the community, through focused in-person time and hosting events and experiences. Develop a deep understanding of motivations and inspirations, to inform the ongoing engagement strategy.
• Deliver multi-channel communications - design and execute communications that educate and enrich the community, tailored to individual backgrounds, interests, and engagement levels.
• Lead and execute onboarding into the pre-flight preparation journey - coordinate and deliver the engagement journey in the lead-up to spaceflight, ensuring each individual astronaut completes required tasks and feels informed, confident and supported as the astronaut crews become unified and ready for their mission.
• Manage engagement platforms and tools - serve as the primary stakeholder for the Astronaut Portal, ensuring it functions as the central hub for communication and engagement.
• Leverage data and insights - use CRM data and analytics to segment engagement levels, define success metrics, and tailor strategies accordingly.
• Partner cross-functionally - Work collaboratively to achieve goals and / or complete tasks, specifically working closely with CRM, Astronaut Office, Training, Medical, Security, and Commercial teams to align engagement priorities and deliver a cohesive customer journey.
• Support community-building initiatives and events - foster connection through ambassador networks and regional hubs, identifying meaningful engagement opportunities across key global locations.
• Contribute to forward planning - support the development of the engagement and communications calendar, ensuring a balanced, thoughtful, and scalable approach.
• Continuously improve the experience - identify opportunities to streamline systems, processes, and communications based on feedback and learnings.

Required Skills and Experience

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The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $107,850.00-$164,550.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https : / / vgcareers.virgingalactic.com / global / en / benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles .

Export Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here .

EEO Statement

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

Drug Free Workplace

Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.

Phoenix Employment Requirements

For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.