Group Supervisor I/II - Mechanical Structures & Articulation (352C)

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

9d • $179,608 - $227,032 • Onsite

About The Position

The Technical Group Supervisor of Mechanical Structures & Articulation (352C) within JPL’s Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section leads a group estimated at 10–15 individuals. The primary responsibility is recruiting, hiring, managing, mentoring, coaching, and developing group members, while interacting with project customers and engineers and ensuring project objectives are met. The role requires independent work and collaboration across disciplines, with strong oral and written presentation skills.

The group develops and delivers moving mechanical assemblies that interface with electronics for deployable, mobility, sampling, and other robotic functions and systems. The supervisor provides end-to-end systems and hardware development leadership from concept to launch, and manages the group’s staffing and technical approach across flight projects, study tasks, and proposals. The position is part of Division 35, which develops advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, integration, and test.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline and at least 9 years of related experience; or a master’s degree in a similar discipline and at least 7 years; or a Ph.D. in a similar discipline and at least 5 years.
• Experience and advanced knowledge in payload and/or small spacecraft development.
• Expertise in mechanical engineering for structures, mechanisms, and/or hardware development test beds for flight projects and technology tasks.
• Ability to work on or manage multiple projects in parallel.
• Ability to work effectively with engineers and managers at all levels and across organizations and disciplines; commitment and experience in customer satisfaction; ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries and with JPL institutional management; ability to resolve complex technical and managerial problems.
• Strong record in task planning and prioritization, resource assessment, costing, schedule and deliverable management, and meeting project commitments.
• Experience and aptitude leading teams and mentoring engineers, including mentoring and counseling; commitment to others’ success and career development.
• Excellent organizational and team-building skills and ability to work productively with colleagues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain difficult technical topics to people outside the field.
• Availability for occasional travel.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated payload and/or small spacecraft development experience, including mechanical design, implementation, and delivery for a flight project, and comprehensive understanding of hardware acceptance procedures and processes.
• Familiarity with testbed design, engineering, and operations; mechanical integration operations and processes; and external institutions’ implementation methodologies for payload and small spacecraft development.
• Familiarity with flight-project mechanisms, 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; effective line-project-program interaction; and risk balancing and 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 regulations, JPL Flight Project Practices, and Design Principles, with ability to tailor planning and execution to 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.

Responsibilities

• Fulfill Group Supervisor duties, including workforce planning, recruiting, hiring, training, assigning work, assessing performance, ensuring quality work products, and proper time charging.
• Foster a diverse, respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace; ensure fair and equitable treatment, maintain a safe working environment, enforce JPL and section rules and guidelines, and ensure required training is completed.
• Support employee development through ongoing coaching and mentoring, candid performance feedback, education in flight engineering processes and section practices, and recognition of achievements and productivity.
• Collaborate with project and other line managers to resolve technical and staffing needs.
• Support group members with scheduling, costing, and product deliveries; ensure adherence 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 multidisciplinary engineering approaches.
• Manage Mechanical Structures & Articulation activities, including staffing and technical approaches for flight projects, study tasks, and proposals.
• Interact with project customers and engineers and ensure project objectives are met.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans.
• Paid time off.
• Learning opportunities.
• Rideshare benefits.
• Childcare.
• Flexible schedule.
• Parental leave.
• Benefits for eligible positions are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager