Principal Innovation Associate in Littleton, CO, US - EchoStar | Job Detail

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Principal Innovation Associate
EchoStar - Littleton, CO, US
Salary: $130000 - $160000/Yearly
Job type: Fulltime-Regular
Resume required: Yes
Posted date: 2026-07-30

Full job description:

Company Summary

EchoStar is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products.

Today, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.

As we continue to evolve, we are seeking a dynamic and analytical problem-solver to serve as a Principal Innovation Associate. Reporting directly to the VP, Special Projects, this high-visibility role will drive incubation, market testing, and strategic execution for novel business initiatives across the EchoStar portfolio. The ideal candidate will combine venture-style incubation skills with structured enterprise strategy to validate emerging technologies, build business cases, and transition high-potential concepts into scalable operational units.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

  • Special Projects Execution: Leads cross-functional task forces on high-priority, strategic initiatives defined by the VP, Special Projects and executive leadership, turning vague business challenges into actionable programs
  • Opportunity Identification: Evaluates emerging market trends, disruptive business models, and novel technology applications across telecommunications, media, and smart home sectors to identify high-value growth vectors
  • Incubation & Proof of Concept (PoC): Designs, funds, and manages pilot programs and PoCs to test new consumer and enterprise offerings with minimal capital expenditure before scaling
  • Business Case Modeling: Develops rigorous financial models, market sizing analyses, and unit economic frameworks to support investment decisions and executive buy-in
  • Executive Support & Liaison: Acts as a trusted advisor and strategic proxy for the VP, Special Projects, synthesizing complex operational and market data into concise executive briefings and presentations
  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigates organizational silos to secure resource allocation and operational buy-in from Legal, Product, Engineering, Finance, and Marketing for new incubation initiatives

Skills, Experience and Requirements

  • Strategic Agility: A self-starter with a founder mindset who thrives in ambiguity and can comfortably pivot between high-level strategy and granular execution
  • Analytical Rigor: Exceptional quantitative modeling and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to structure unstructured problems and build data-driven business cases
  • Cross-Functional Influence: Highly collaborative leader skilled at building trust, negotiating for resources, and driving consensus across matrixed teams without direct authority
  • Executive Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills, capable of distilling dense technical and operational concepts into clear recommendations for executive audiences
  • Curious & Adaptable: A continuous learner with deep curiosity about emerging technology, telecom innovation, and evolving consumer habits
  • Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related quantitative field and 6+ years of strategy, management consulting, corporate development, or venture incubation experience; OR a Master’s degree/MBA with 4+ years of relevant experience
  • Project Leadership Track Record: 3+ years of experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic projects or incubating new products/services from concept to launch
  • Domain Expertise: 3+ years of exposure to telecommunications, media, tech platforms, or subscription-based consumer services

Benefits

We offer versatile health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, career opportunities, and a flexible time away plan; all benefits can be viewed here: EchoStar Benefits.

The base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, and competencies; compensation is based on the role's location and is subject to change based on work location. 

Candidates need to successfully complete a pre-employment screen, which may include a drug test and DMV check. Our company is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where every individual has the opportunity to succeed. We are dedicated to providing individuals with criminal or arrest records a fair chance of employment in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

We pride ourselves on developing and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. EchoStar will accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees if such accommodations are not undue hardships and are otherwise within the bounds of applicable law. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with local, state, and federal law. You may redact any information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of school/graduation from your application documents before submission and throughout our application process.

EchoStar will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities, unless doing so poses an undue hardship on the Company, poses a direct threat of substantial harm to others, or is otherwise not required by law. EchoStar has a more detailed Accommodation Policy that applies to employees. EchoStar endeavors to make echostar.com and jobs.echostar.com accessible to users. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to discuss the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process. This contact information is for accommodation requests only; do not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications.

Click the links to access the following statements: EEO Policy StatementPay Transparency, EEOC Know Your Rights (English/Spanish)


Job reference: 2026-100487