Softgoods Lab Deputy Manager

Amentum•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Softgoods Lab Deputy Manager will divide their time between supporting daily Softgoods design and fabrication tasks and assisting with the overall operations, personnel coordination, and technical functions of the Softgoods Lab. This role collaborates closely with the Softgoods Lab Manager, Section Manager, NASA partners, and cross‑functional engineering teams to ensure effective planning, execution, and documentation of Softgoods development and fabrication activities. The Deputy Manager also supports workforce coordination, training, safety compliance, scheduling, and continuous improvement initiatives within SGL.

Requirements

HS diploma and 15 years of experience or BS in Engineering Technology or related field and 10 years of experience.
Bachelor’s degree in industrial design engineering technology field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Experience in Softgoods, textiles, prototyping, or hardware fabrication environments.
Experience supporting technical teams, workflows, or laboratory operations.
Strong organizational, communication, and multitasking skills.
Ability to interpret and follow SOPs, work instructions, and quality requirements.
Proficiency with standard office and documentation tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in NASA, aerospace, government, or other regulated environments.
Knowledge of NASA/JSC processes, configuration management practices, and flight‑hardware requirements.
Experience with Rhino, AutoCAD, and other CAD software tools.
Familiarity with ISO 9000 or related quality‑management systems.
Experience coordinating small technical teams or managing work assignments.
Background in Softgoods design and fabrication, including materials selection and sewing technologies.

Responsibilities

Support the Softgoods Lab Manager with daily oversight of lab personnel, workflow, and operational activities.
Assist with communication and coordination with NASA Civil Servants, Branch Chiefs, and Division Chiefs.
Support meetings with JETS TO managers to forecast work requirements, budget needs, and resource allocations.
Participate in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of new SGL employees in collaboration with management and HR teams.
Contribute to the development, documentation, and improvement of training materials and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Assist with training new employees on SOPs while ensuring adherence to flight hardware quality standards.
Provide weekly project status updates to NASA customers and JETS Program Managers.
Help ensure employee compliance with mandatory trainings and timely completion of daily timecard submissions.
Support daily team briefings to communicate tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
Assist in tracking all current and upcoming Softgoods tasks, deadlines, and workload distribution.
Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly work assignments and provide support to ensure task progress and completion.
Assist with evaluating new tasks, including material needs, schedules, and cost estimates.
Support tracking and maintenance of sewing machines and laboratory equipment, including calibration schedules.
Assist with task scheduling while prioritizing spaceflight and training hardware requirements.
Support team adherence to ISO 9000 procedures and NASA/JSC design and fabrication standards.
Conduct safety walkthroughs to identify potential hazards and support corrective actions.
Assist in implementing and coordinating safe‑operations procedures and safety analyses for SGL activities.
Support inventory tracking, storage, labeling, and material control in accordance with JSC requirements.
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams such as Materials, Stress, Manufacturing, Electrical, Thermal, and Drafting/Checking.
Assist with development and implementation of process improvements and cost‑saving strategies.
Provide recommendations for technical training and professional development for Softgoods designers.
Recommend equipment upgrades to enhance Softgoods Lab capabilities.
Support the management of flight material and hardware inventory.
Assist with procurement of materials needed for prototyping and fabrication activities.
Promote and participate in innovation initiatives and skill‑advancement efforts within the SGL.
Assist with preparation and submission of the weekly Softgoods Lab Activity Report (WAR).