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.

Summary

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a federally funded research and development center managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA, is seeking an exceptional executive leader to serve as its Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer and help shape the future of one of the world's premier aerospace and research institutions, enabling groundbreaking discoveries, advancing national priorities, and supporting missions that expand humanity's understanding of Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Partnering closely with the Director, the Deputy Director will provide strategic leadership, institutional stewardship, and operational excellence across a complex enterprise of scientific, engineering, and administrative functions. The successful candidate will empower a world-class workforce while strengthening the partnerships, capabilities, and organizational resilience necessary to achieve JPL's ambitious mission now and into the future.

Job Summary

The Deputy Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is appointed by the Vice President/ Director of JPL with the concurrence of the President of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which manages JPL for NASA, and in consultation with the NASA Administrator.   

Reporting to the JPL Director, the Deputy Director serves as the Laboratory's Chief Operating Officer, providing executive leadership for institutional operations and mission execution. The Deputy Director leads and integrates the Executive Council, drives organizational execution and accountability, and provides strategic leadership for the Laboratory's workforce. As a strategic partner to the Director, the Deputy Director orchestrates cross-functional coordination among Business, Operations, and Programmatic leadership while maintaining institutional alignment and operational continuity. The Deputy Director ensures operational excellence, fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, and engages in strategic relationships with NASA, Caltech, the Department of War, Intelligence Community, and Space Force. Through integrated execution across programmatic and institutional functions, the Deputy Director ensures operational excellence across all Laboratory functions, driving continuous improvement while deepening the critical Caltech-JPL partnership.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and ensure integration of the Laboratory's institutional operations, which includes acquisitions, workforce management, infrastructure, facilities, and administrative organizations.
• Partner with the JPL Director to establish institutional priorities, execute strategic initiatives, and advance the Laboratory's long-term vision.
• Continue to strengthen and advance the close and enduring partnership with Caltech
• Serve as Acting Director, when delegated, exercising full authority for Laboratory operations and executive decision-making.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Support and partner with the Director in leading the Laboratory through periods of organizational change while maintaining workforce engagement, operational continuity, and mission success.
• Chair the weekly Executive Council, facilitating Laboratory-wide decision-making, policy development, and organizational alignment.

Strategic Institutional Leadership

• Assume a leadership role in the development and execution of JPL's long-range institutional strategy, which includes aligning workforce, infrastructure, technology investments, and operational capabilities with future mission needs. Ensure Executive Council alignment on institutional strategy and drive integrated execution across programmatic and institutional functions.
• Initiate organizational assessments and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee Laboratory-level governance, management systems, and enterprise decision making processes to ensure transparency, accountability, compliance, and organizational performance.
• Deepen the enduring partnership with Caltech administration, participating in Caltech Board of Trustees engagements concerning JPL.

Programmatic Oversight

• Chair Center Project Management Reviews (PMR) to evaluate mission readiness, risk posture, and programmatic execution across all spaceflight and scientific projects.
• Serve as JPL's senior representative to the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO), while acting as the primary institutional liaison with NASA and Caltech functional leadership.
• Ensure effective integration of mission, compliance, and institutional functions across the organization.
• With the Director, lead JPL's strategic relationships with the Department of War, the Intelligence Community, and the U.S. Space Force, serving as the primary executive interface for national security programs.

Institutional Processes and Operations

• Facilitate cross-functional coordination among Business, Operations, and Programmatic leadership to drive aligned execution and resolve cross-functional institutional challenges.
• Ensure clear governance and escalation paths that empower functional leaders while maintaining institutional cohesion.
• Chair the Laboratory's Emergency Policy Committee (EPC) and lead the emergency preparedness, crisis response, and continuity of operations framework.
• Serve as the Laboratory’s Responsible Official for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
• Provide executive oversight of the Ethics, Ombuds, Office of Safety and Mission Success Offices.
• Champion executive talent development, succession planning, leadership development, while establishing and maintaining clear performance standards and accountability for Executive Council members and their organizations.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of 15 years of executive leadership experience in a highly complex, mission-driven scientific, engineering, aerospace, defense, or national security organization, with demonstrated success developing strategy and driving operational excellence, institutional stewardship, and mission success.
• Demonstrated executive leadership across the lifecycle of complex spaceflight programs, including formulation, development, integration, launch, and mission operations.
• Experience operating within complex federal acquisition and government contracting environments.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including oversight of large budgets, government contracts, and enterprise resource planning.
• Demonstrated executive leadership in organizational development, workforce strategy, succession planning, and the recruitment, development, and retention of world-class technical and administrative talent.
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to engage effectively across organizational levels and with senior government officials.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, and leadership that inspires trust and credibility with employees, NASA, Caltech, government agencies, industry partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance within one year of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Executive leadership experience within NASA, the Department of War, the Intelligence Community, the national security space, or another federal science and technology organization.
• Experience leading large-scale spaceflight, aerospace, or scientific programs, with a comprehensive understanding of mission formulation, acquisition strategy, budget development, mission assurance, government partnerships, international collaboration, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation.
• Demonstrated experience leading diverse, high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Advanced degree in engineering, science, business administration, public administration, or related discipline.

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

$500,000 - $750,000

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.