IVA Spacesuit Project Manager

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Positive work-life balance

Employer-paid insurance (medical, dent

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

11 paid holidays

Generous PTO

401k after 12 months with employer

Education assistance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Mclaurin Aerospace is seeking an IVA Spacesuit Project Manager for NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. The role leads end-to-end development, from concept through certification, production, and support, coordinating cross-functional teams and government contracting with rigorous technical and schedule discipline.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years in complex aerospace programs, strong systems engineering background, and proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 5–10 years of related experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead IVA spacesuit development from concept through certification, production, and operational support.
• Manage scope, cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk across multiple workstreams.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams including systems, mechanical, electrical, materials, software, thermal, manufacturing, human factors, safety, quality, test, and mission operations engineering.
• Coordinate technical integration between IVA spacesuits and spacecraft systems, including crew interfaces, seats, environmental control systems, avionics, communications, and emergency systems.
• Ensure compliance with human-rating standards and customer requirements.
• Lead Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and coordinate across internal organizations, suppliers, customers, and government agencies.
• Develop project execution plans, Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), budgets, and resource forecasts.
• Manage contract performance, subcontractors, Statements of Work (SOW), deliverables, and customer reporting.
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, and issue resolution.
• Support major design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and Certification Reviews.
• Present technical and program status to executive leadership and customers.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, technical performance, and team collaboration.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Systems engineering

Multidisciplinary teams

Budget & schedule

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Contract management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Systems Engineering experience

Tools

MBSE

IMS scheduling

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for a IVA Spacesuit Project Manager to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Lead all phases of IVA spacesuit development from concept through certification, production, and operational support.
• Manage project scope, cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk across multiple integrated workstreams.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams including systems, mechanical, electrical, materials, software, thermal, manufacturing, human factors, safety, quality, test, and mission operations engineering.
• Coordinate technical integration between IVA spacesuits and spacecraft systems, including crew interfaces, seats, environmental control systems, avionics, communications, and emergency systems.
• Ensure compliance with human-rating standards and customer requirements.
• Lead Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and coordinate across internal organizations, suppliers, customers, and government agencies.
• Develop project execution plans, Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), budgets, and resource forecasts.
• Manage contract performance, subcontractors, Statements of Work (SOW), deliverables, and customer reporting.
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, and issue resolution.
• Support major design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and Certification Reviews.
• Present technical and program status to executive leadership and customers.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, technical performance, and team collaboration.
• Additional job duties as required

Qualifications:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex aerospace development programs.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience integrating spacesuit systems with crewed spacecraft.
• Strong background in systems engineering principles and project execution.
• Experience managing government and/or commercial aerospace contracts.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, technical baselines, and program risk.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15 years of experience supporting human-rated spaceflight programs.
• 10 of experience supporting IVA spacesuit systems or spacesuit subsystems.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Business Administration.
• Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience supporting NASA Commercial Crew, Artemis, Orion, or other human spaceflight programs.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Experience in many of the following areas:
• IVA Spacesuits
• Pressure Garment Systems
• Crew Survival Equipment
• Human-Rated Spacecraft
• Crew Interfaces
• Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)
• Helmet Systems
• Visor Assemblies
• Gloves
• Pressure Garments
• Communications Systems
• Thermal Protection
• Restraint Systems
• Human Factors Engineering
• Crew Escape Systems
• Crew Safety
• Qualification Testing
• Flight Certification
• Systems Integration
• Requirements Management
• Verification and Validation
• Configuration Management
• Risk Management
• Supplier Management

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.

Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.