Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical and Control Systems Division (Division 35), which creates advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems. Division 35 develops hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem, and system-level integration and test.

Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section (Section 352) creates innovative, technically excellent products in an inclusive team environment that offer creative and novel solutions for JPL’s boldest missions. As the Technical Group Supervisor of Mechanical Structures & Articulation (352C) within Section 352, your primary responsibility will be recruiting, hiring, managing, mentoring, coaching, and developing your group members. The estimated group size is 10-15 individuals.  You will also interact with project customers and engineers and be responsible for assuring project objectives are met.  You must be able to work independently and within a team environment, collaborate on tasks performed across a spectrum of disciplines, and have excellent oral and written presentation skills.

Some challenges you will tackle:

• Fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a Group Supervisor, including workforce planning, recruiting, hiring, training, assigning work, performance assessment, ensuring quality work products, and proper time charging.
• Lead in fostering a diverse, respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace – ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all employees, maintaining a safe working environment, enforcing JPL and section rules and guidelines, and ensuring that group members have taken the required training.
• Facilitate employee development, growth, and performance – providing continuous coaching and mentoring activities to hone members; providing frank and honest feedback regarding their performance and areas for improvement; providing education in flight engineering processes and in executing best section practices; providing appropriate recognition for their achievements and productivity.
• Interface and collaborate with project and other line managers to resolve technical and staffing needs.
• Support group members with scheduling, costing, and product deliveries; ensure the group adheres to JPL Flight Project Practices and Design Principles for flight hardware design, development, assembly, test, and delivery.
• Provide end-to-end systems and hardware development leadership from concept to launch using multi-disciplinary engineering approaches; manage all Mechanical Structures & Articulation activities regarding staffing and technical approach for flight projects, study tasks, and proposals.
• Key areas of expertise for the 352C group include design, implementation, and delivery of moving mechanical assemblies that synergistically interface with electronics for deployable, mobility, sampling, and other robotic functions and systems.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 9 years of related experience; Master’s degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 7 years of related experience; or PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 5 years related experience.
• Experience and advanced knowledge in payload and/or small spacecraft development; expertise in the practice of mechanical engineering for structures, mechanisms, and/or hardware development test beds for flight projects and technology tasks.
• Ability to work/manage multiple projects in parallel.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of engineers and managers, across organizations and disciplines; demonstrated commitment and experience to customer satisfaction; demonstrated ability to team effectively across organizational boundaries; ability and willingness to team with JPL institutional management to creatively solve complex institutional issues; demonstrated ability in resolving complex technical and managerial problems.
• Strong record of success in task planning and prioritization, resource assessment, costing, managing schedules and deliverables, and meeting project commitments.
• Demonstrated experience and aptitude in leading teams and mentoring engineers with genuine commitment to the success of others beyond merely helping with technical tasks; experience with mentoring and counseling; commitment to the development of and advancement of other’s careers.
• Excellent organizational and team building skills; aptitude to work with colleagues in a productive manner; excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to explain difficult technical topics to those external to the field.
• Availability for occasional travel.

Desired Skills:

• Demonstrated experience with payload and/or small spacecraft development including the mechanical design, implementation, and delivery for a flight project and a comprehensive understanding of hardware acceptance procedures and processes.
• Familiarity with testbed design, engineering, and operations; mechanical integration operations and processes; and implementation methodologies at institutions external to JPL for payload and small spacecraft development.
• Familiarity with the various mechanisms for flight projects including linear and rotary actuators, drive trains and gear boxes, precision pointing gimbals, launch locking systems, sampling acquisition and handling, and piezo-electric actuator devices.  
• Experience building relationships between JPL and external entities including support contractors, strategic partners, and other government agencies; experience with effective line-project-program interaction; experience with risk balancing and risk communication in cost and schedule constrained environments.
• Knowledge of JPL and NASA mission and technology proposal generation and funding processes.

• Understanding of JPL and NASA policies and procedures, government regulation across a range of applications, JPL Flight Project Practices and Design Principles; demonstrated ability to tailor the planning and execution of these on missions of various risk classes.

• Familiarity with NASA and other government agencies and their relevant capabilities.
• Experience working in a TS/SCI environment or willingness to obtain TS/SCI clearance if needed.

NOTE: THIS POSITION MAY BE CLASSIFIED AT ONE LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE POSTED LEVEL. A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AFTER THE FINAL CANDIDATE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job at a level higher in Pasadena, California $216,632 - $273,000.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.