Chief, Mission Assurance Team

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring incentives

Job summary

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Los Angeles seeks a Mission Assurance Team Chair to lead a 100-member team and oversee a $34M program in Space Launch. You will provide expert systems engineering guidance, coordinate with government and industry partners, and manage readiness, risk assessments and post-flight reviews.

The role requires exceptional communication, integrity and the ability to operate across agencies in a dynamic, high-stakes environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in space launch operations and processing.
• Ability to brief management and write concise reports.
• Ability to travel occasionally to other sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide continuity of operations and develop plans and objectives.
• Execute launch operations including rehearsals.
• Coordinate with government and industry partners on launch solutions.
• Lead risk assessments and mission assurance processes.
• Oversee systems engineering activities across capability areas.

Skills

Space launch

Systems engineering

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at nro.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

The position serves as a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Office of Space Launch (OSL) Chief of Mission Assurance Team (MAT Chair) and the position is located within the Office of Space Launch, Los Angeles, California and will have direct experience in space launch mission acquisition, integration, mission assurance and operations. The position's management and oversight responsibilities are at the highest levels and require significant and extensive experience in coordination and integration across agencies to execute the launch mission. The current and future environment is fast-paced and dynamic as the NRO pivots to capitalize on rapidly developing space launch innovations and adapts its architecture to harness novel technologies and meet new threats. The work involves coordination both internally and across the NRO enterprise to ensure existing and emerging launch support requirements are properly documented and executed to keep OSL coordinated with the exquisite NRO emerging architectures.

Mission Assurance Team Chair, Office of Space Launch. Within the Office of Space Launch (OSL), the MAT Chief provides expert technical and professional advice on systems engineering issues affecting launch operations and mission assurance risk buy down. The work involves originating new and improved strategies for engineering or architecture concepts, theories, and principles which affect the planning, completion, operations, and maintenance of major engineering or architecture projects.

The MAT Chief Leads a 100-member team providing technical risk assessments and final "go/no-go" 'to launch Mission Director and NRO Director.

Executes $34M oversight program, assesses mission threats during factory build, range prep, execution, and post-flight review.

Champions hardware fixes for SSC's AATS Commander, NRO Director and informs DNI of mission risk status, while coordinating with industry.

The MAT Chair is responsible for leading the Mission Assurance Team and is the primary interface with the Mission Director on all risk assessments. The Chief, in conjunction with the Launch Acquisition Division COTR, manages the MAT’s budget requirements. The MAT Chair manages contractor support and sets priorities for Launch Vehicle contractor MAT activities. The MAT Chair also develops the MAT strategic vision and processes, ensures MAT resources are adequately funded, and makes certain that obstacles to completing MAT objectives are minimized.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.

What You Will Be Doing

• Works closely with leadership in providing continuity of operations, in assessing mission and work requirements and in developing plans, goals and objectives.
• Has direct experience in executing launch operations including rehearsals and DoL integrated launch operations
• Has direct experience with Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director duties in order to execute rehearsal and day of launch operations with multiple launch service providers.
• Analyze Independent Verification and Validation of launch mission data
• Coordinate with government and industry partners to optimize launch solutions
• Integration status and readiness processes
• Coordinate with launch vehicle providers
• Provides expert technical and professional advice on systems engineering issues affecting launch operations and mission assurance risk buy down.
• Originate new and improved strategies for engineering, architecture concepts, theories, and principles which affect the planning, completion, operations, and maintenance of major engineering or architecture projects.
• Day-of-Launch readiness and operations
• Post-flight data review and lessons learned
• Oversee systems engineering activities across all capability areas
• Direct requirements validation and feasibility analysis
• Coordinate coupled loads analysis and mission certification activities

What You Need

• Demonstrated expertise in space launch to include launch and space vehicles and processing
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to write clearly and concisely, engage with personnel at all levels (both internal and external to the organization), brief management on findings and conclusions, and organize and author write reports of varying length and complexity.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, team members, and organizational officials.
• Ability to plan, organize, evaluate, and conduct thorough and objective analysis of factual material and complex issues to include assessing the effectiveness, economy, and efficiency of resource utilization, management processes and procedures, and the extent to which mission objectives are being achieved.
• Impeccable integrity, discretion, and ability to work with very sensitive information
• Ability to travel occasionally to other sites

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge/expertise in space systems engineering
• Ability to handle numerous matters simultaneously, prioritize requirements, and perform tasks within specified timelines
• Extensive knowledge of DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies and processes
• 5-10 years’ experience with NRO missions, programs and management processes. Sound understanding of intelligence satellite systems.
• Bachelor's degree in Professional Engineering from a school of engineering where the curriculum is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• Expertise in advanced multidisciplinary engineering or related engineering/technical discipline, concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment sufficient to apply experimental theories, principles, and concepts
• Understanding of mission design integration and systems certification processes
• Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and management skills to conceptualize and effectively lead complex analytic projects with limited supervision
• Ability to work collegially to find consensus solutions when views differ among agencies
• Ability to effectively work independently and within a team or collaborative environment
• Proven ability to coordinate with diverse government and industry partners
• Demonstrated written and oral communications skills, including ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels of leadership
• Ability to give effective oral presentations at levels appropriate to and tailored for different target audiences
• Skill in translating complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Proven critical thinking skills and reasoning skills as demonstrated by experience in preparing analytical assessments and other written products with emphasis on clear organization and concise, logical presentation
• Ability to provide assessments or recommendations supported by data or research
• Knowledge of and ability to apply analytic, diagnostic, and qualitative techniques sufficient to produce authoritative analytical products (such as test plans and final reports)
• Ability to employ new methodological approaches to analyze information
• Experience functioning as Project Officer and/or COTR with overall responsibility for managing cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk
• Experience providing technical maturity and risk assessments, technical guidance, and leading anomaly resolution

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• MAY be selected for a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Salary

2026 STEM salary range

GG-14: $148,275-$197,200

• This position is a Full Performance and Senior Level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-14 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [email protected].

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974