Director Engineering & Test Directorate

John C. Stennis Space Center•Stennis Space Center, MS

About The Position

The Director of the Engineering and Test Directorate (E&TD) serves as a director reporting to the Director of the John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC). The role provides executive management and engineering expertise for propulsion programs assigned to SSC that require engine-, system-level, or component testing, as well as systems design, analysis, and modeling to support systems facilities. The Director oversees E&TD objectives, plans, priorities, resources, budgets, program evaluations, engineering and test operations, and policies. The position manages propulsion test facility activation, operation, maintenance, and requirements for new or modified facilities, while ensuring safe operations and customer satisfaction. It also oversees applied science, technology, rocket propulsion projects, and partnerships across NASA, other agencies, and public and private organizations. The role represents SSC and NASA with government and external stakeholders, including working groups, senior officials, Congress and its staff, foreign representatives, companies, and media. Candidates must meet the SES Executive Core Qualifications and the Mandatory Technical Qualification, and hold a qualifying bachelor's degree in a listed science or engineering field. The appointment includes federal suitability and security requirements, and an initial SES career appointee is subject to a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

Demonstrated Executive Core Qualifications: commitment to the rule of law and principles of the American founding; driving efficiency; merit and competence; leading people; and achieving results.
Demonstrated leadership directing high-performing organizations responsible for the full spectrum of engineering and test functions, including cryogenic systems design and operations, data and controls systems, program or project management, and test complex coordination or range operations.
Progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience managing a program or organization of significant scope and complexity, normally gained over several years in GS-15-level or equivalent positions.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or another field of science.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
Must meet the qualifications by the announcement closing date.
Must complete a Declaration for Federal Employment when requested.
Must successfully complete a background investigation commensurate with the position's risk and sensitivity level.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required by the position.
Must complete pre-employment and random drug testing if required.
Must file an Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
Initial SES career appointees are subject to a one-year probationary period.
Applicants must present qualifications in their own words; copied experience statements may result in disqualification.
Applicants using foreign education must provide an evaluation showing equivalency to an accredited U.S. education program, or qualifying transfer credit from a U.S.-accredited college or university.
A selected candidate must provide an official transcript.

Responsibilities

Establish E&TD objectives, develop short- and long-range plans and programs, set priorities, and adjust work to accommodate NASA program objectives.
Initiate or secure resources needed for E&TD functions, including preparing and defending assigned program resource requirements through the budget cycle.
Evaluate and review the results and impacts of assigned programs.
Develop and manage ground propulsion systems engineering supporting technology development, reliability, and component-, system-, and engine-level testing for NASA, commercial, Department of Defense, and technology programs.
Manage activation, operation, and maintenance of propulsion test facilities to ensure safe operations and customer satisfaction.
Establish requirements for new or modified test facilities based on new program requirements.
Conduct supporting technology work for ongoing programs and advance technology programs to develop systems.
Manage applied science, technology, and rocket propulsion projects and tasks within assigned budgets and schedules to obtain required data and scientific results.
Establish plans and processes to ensure long-term viability and sustainability of SSC propulsion test facilities and critical skills.
Establish policies for programs and projects assigned by SSC, NASA Headquarters, and/or Agency program offices.
Coordinate rocket propulsion activities with other agency rocket propulsion test centers to reduce costs and improve interagency cooperation.
Support and maintain partnerships that collaborate on common objectives and enable technology system solutions.
Manage development, transfer, and deployment of NASA technologies, processes, products, and facilities to federal, state, university, and commercial organizations.
Maintain technology development interfaces with other SSC organizations.
Represent the Center's and Agency's positions to engineering, public, and private working groups; senior NASA and other federal officials; Congress and its staff; foreign representatives and companies; and media.