Program Area Manager IV/V (Capabilities & Products Division-Astrophysics Technology Infusion & Business Development)

JPL/NASA • Pasadena, CA

17h • $164,216 - $200,200 • Onsite

About The Position

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.
The Capabilities & Products (CaP) Division resides within JPL's Strategy and Formulation Directorate (5X) and is responsible for new business development and the management, infusion, and lifecycle stewardship of JPL's core capabilities and products. CaP's mission is to extend NASA’s reach by aligning JPL's technical strengths with the nation's most challenging scientific and technical needs — spanning NASA, civil government, commercial, international, and philanthropic partners.
CaP operates through three primary objectives: (1) Business Development & Capture, targeting non-NASA and non-DoD opportunities that leverage JPL capabilities; (2) Advancing JPL Core Capabilities, defining and stewarding the institutional capabilities JPL must maintain for future mission and market needs; and (3) Advancing JPL Products, maturing repeatable, transferable outputs that extend JPL's reach across users, applications, and missions.
CaP is a lean, mission-focused division of eight professionals, operating at the intersection of science, technology, and institutional business growth. CaP works closely and collaboratively with JPL's Engineering and Science Directorate (ESD) as the Strategic Planning and Integration Office and other divisions within 5x and. CaP directly supports formulation efforts of the Space and Earth Science, Exploration Systems Division, and National Programs with technology infusion as needed for successful business development and capture.
Key Tasks include but are not limited to:
Area 1: Astrophysics Technology Infusion into the Space and Earth Science Division:
In this area, the Program Manager will serve as CaP's interface with JPL's Space and Earth Science Division’s Astrophysics formulation efforts, treating that division as an internal customer whose scientific priorities and mission context define the demand signal for technology development and associated business development.
Proactively engage with Space and Earth Science Division leadership and scientists to understand, prioritize, and translate science requirements into technology development needs, particularly for future astrophysics flagship missions (e.g., the Habitable Worlds Observatory) and significant science instruments for astrophysics missions where JPL may have partial or no prime leadership.
Support and contribute to mission formulation efforts and associated trade studies within the Space and Earth Science Division that inform technology investment priorities, with CaP playing a facilitative and programmatic support role.
Lead the program management of technology development activities executed by JPL’s Engineering and Science Directorate and/or external partners, including scope definition, schedule, resource tracking, and milestone accountability.
Actively seek and pursue NASA and other federal funding mechanisms (e.g., ROSES, STMD solicitations, SAT, APRA, BPS, and other relevant programs) to fund astrophysics technology development efforts, developing proposals and coordinating across JPL and partner institutions as needed.
Build and maintain a close collaborative relationship with ESD at all levels, including division managers, chief technologists, and formulation leads. Leadership of ESD-executed work must be exercised in a manner that is collaborative, transparent, and aligned with JPL’s institutional culture and norms — defining scope and accountability appropriately.
Maintain situational awareness of the astrophysics technology landscape, including emerging needs from NASA’s Astrophysics Division, Decadal Survey priorities, and external science community activities.
Area 2: Business Development and Capture for JPL Capabilities and Products:
In this area, the Program Manager will support CaP’s broader business development mission by building the external relationships and funding pipelines necessary to develop longer-term capabilities needed for JPL missions and instruments, and support defining and marketing products externally to extend JPL’s and NASA’s impact.
Identifying and developing partnerships with industry, universities, and international partners that can co-invest in Astrophysics, Earth Science, Planetary, and other National Programs relevant technology development or provide complementary capabilities.
Pursuing funding opportunities from a diversified sponsor base, including civil government agencies (e.g., DOE, NSF), international government programs, and philanthropic organizations. Develop and execute program proposals and teaming arrangements in support of these opportunities.
Engaging in proactive program development (“market making”) with potential sponsors — helping define funding opportunities and scopes that align with both sponsor objectives and JPL’s institutional technology priorities.
Supporting and where appropriate lead, the definition and marketing of relatively mature JPL technologies and subsystems that may be of interest to external partners or customers, domestically or internationally, as part of CaP’s Product Definition and Marketing function.
Representing JPL in external forums, workshops, and partnership discussions relevant to astrophysics technology and mission development; build visibility for JPL capabilities in the broader science and technology community.
Working within CaP’s structured market segmentation framework to prioritize and sequence business development efforts, contributing to pipeline management and opportunity tracking across the astrophysics portfolio.
Area 3: Capability Lifecycle Strategy for Astrophysics and Related Technologies:
In this area, the Program Manager will contribute to CaP’s institutional function of stewarding technology capabilities over the long term, ensuring that JPL’s astrophysics and other National Programs’ relevant capabilities are deliberately developed, managed, and evolved.
Contribute to long-term technology planning for astrophysics-related capabilities under CaP’s Capability Lifecycle Strategy function, identifying capability gaps, maturation needs, and transition pathways across early, mid, and late lifecycle stages.
Work collaboratively with ESD to define, document, and manage institutional capabilities in the astrophysics domain — ensuring that capability investments are aligned with mission roadmaps, science priorities, and institutional strategy.
Inform and support investment prioritization decisions within CaP and 5x broadly, including R&TD and other internal investment programs, based on a coherent view of astrophysics capability needs and market opportunities.
Track and communicate progress of capability development efforts, providing visibility to CaP and 5x leadership and relevant ESD stakeholders on status, risks, and evolving priorities.
Contribute to cross-functional CaP coordination efforts to ensure that astrophysics technology infusion, business development, and capability lifecycle activities are mutually reinforcing and strategically coherent.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 7years of relevant experience; or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in program management or project management roles, including experience leading multi-organizational or cross-functional technical efforts, ideally in a research, aerospace, or government-adjacent environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively at the interface of science, technology, and programmatic execution — translating scientific needs into technology development scope and managing execution of that work.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and influence outcomes within large, matrixed technical organizations, including navigating stakeholder dynamics across scientific, engineering, and management communities.
• Demonstrated experience in business development, proposal development, or capture activities, including experience with NASA or other federal funding mechanisms.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with senior scientific and technical leaders, NASA program officers, external partners, and executive leadership at JPL.
• Ability to work effectively in a small, high-initiative team environment with significant individual ownership and accountability across multiple concurrent work streams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with NASA astrophysics missions or instruments, including knowledge of astrophysics mission formulation processes, science instrument development, and/or flagship mission planning (e.g., LUVOIR/HWO, Lynx, Origins Space Telescope or similar).
• Familiarity with NASA technology funding programs relevant to astrophysics, such as ROSES solicitations (APRA, SAT, etc.), STMD programs, and Center Innovation Fund mechanisms.
• Experience developing or maintaining partnerships with universities, research institutions, international space agencies, or commercial partners in the context of science or technology programs.
• Knowledge of JPL’s Engineering and Science Directorate, its organization, and its technology competency areas, or equivalent experience navigating a large technical research institution.
• Experience with strategic planning, road mapping capability, or technology portfolio management at an institutional or program level.
• Familiarity with non-NASA funding landscapes relevant to astrophysics technology, including DOE Office of Science, NSF, international funding programs, and philanthropic science sponsors.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain an active external network in the astrophysics science and technology community.
• Expert knowledge of JPL and NASA policies, procedures, and contracting mechanisms, or demonstrated ability to rapidly develop such knowledge.
• Experience working with or within JPL’s Strategy and Formulation Directorate, or with analogous strategic and institutional functions at other research organizations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as CaP's interface with JPL's Space and Earth Science Division’s Astrophysics formulation efforts.
• Proactively engage with Space and Earth Science Division leadership and scientists to understand, prioritize, and translate science requirements into technology development needs.
• Support and contribute to mission formulation efforts and associated trade studies within the Space and Earth Science Division that inform technology investment priorities.
• Lead the program management of technology development activities executed by JPL’s Engineering and Science Directorate and/or external partners, including scope definition, schedule, resource tracking, and milestone accountability.
• Actively seek and pursue NASA and other federal funding mechanisms to fund astrophysics technology development efforts, developing proposals and coordinating across JPL and partner institutions as needed.
• Build and maintain a close collaborative relationship with ESD at all levels.
• Maintain situational awareness of the astrophysics technology landscape.
• Support CaP’s broader business development mission by building the external relationships and funding pipelines necessary to develop longer-term capabilities needed for JPL missions and instruments.
• Support defining and marketing products externally to extend JPL’s and NASA’s impact.
• Identifying and developing partnerships with industry, universities, and international partners that can co-invest in Astrophysics, Earth Science, Planetary, and other National Programs relevant technology development or provide complementary capabilities.
• Pursuing funding opportunities from a diversified sponsor base, including civil government agencies (e.g., DOE, NSF), international government programs, and philanthropic organizations. Develop and execute program proposals and teaming arrangements in support of these opportunities.
• Engaging in proactive program development (“market making”) with potential sponsors — helping define funding opportunities and scopes that align with both sponsor objectives and JPL’s institutional technology priorities.
• Supporting and where appropriate lead, the definition and marketing of relatively mature JPL technologies and subsystems that may be of interest to external partners or customers, domestically or internationally, as part of CaP’s Product Definition and Marketing function.
• Representing JPL in external forums, workshops, and partnership discussions relevant to astrophysics technology and mission development; build visibility for JPL capabilities in the broader science and technology community.
• Working within CaP’s structured market segmentation framework to prioritize and sequence business development efforts, contributing to pipeline management and opportunity tracking across the astrophysics portfolio.
• Contribute to long-term technology planning for astrophysics-related capabilities under CaP’s Capability Lifecycle Strategy function, identifying capability gaps, maturation needs, and transition pathways across early, mid, and late lifecycle stages.
• Work collaboratively with ESD to define, document, and manage institutional capabilities in the astrophysics domain — ensuring that capability investments are aligned with mission roadmaps, science priorities, and institutional strategy.
• Inform and support investment prioritization decisions within CaP and 5x broadly, including R&TD and other internal investment programs, based on a coherent view of astrophysics capability needs and market opportunities.
• Track and communicate progress of capability development efforts, providing visibility to CaP and 5x leadership and relevant ESD stakeholders on status, risks, and evolving priorities.
• Contribute to cross-functional CaP coordination efforts to ensure that astrophysics technology infusion, business development, and capability lifecycle activities are mutually reinforcing and strategically coherent.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees