Material Control Administrator II

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 78,728 - 93,912; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks a dedicated Material Control Administrator II to coordinate procurement of EEE parts, materials, and related services for flight and institutional projects. You will manage end-to-end procurement support, ensure compliance with JPL, Caltech, NASA and federal requirements, and help keep cost and schedule objectives on track.

The role requires strong organizational and communication skills, ability to work independently with limited

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 3 years related experience, or Master’s with 1 year.
• Experience in procurement roles for parts, materials or supplies.
• Experience with high-reliability electronic components for aerospace applications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet milestones.
• Strong communication across teams.
• Independent work with limited supervision.
• Organized, detail-oriented with problem-solving.
• Cross-functional procurement support experience.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines with multiple stakeholders.
• Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Review procurement requests and obtain information for EEE parts and services.
• Prepare and process PRs, P-Card transactions, and related docs.
• Coordinate with managers, PPEs, parts reps, vendors, leads to ensure on-schedule actions.
• Track procurement status and provide reports to stakeholders.
• Ensure documentation is complete and compliant.
• Support Return Material Authorization activities and disposition.
• Identify procurement issues to minimize schedule impact.
• Ensure EEE acquisitions comply with JPL SCRM.
• Maintain organized records.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Procurement experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Oracle Purchasing

JPL P-Card systems

Excel

Job description

Job Details

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.

Responsibilities:

The Component Engineering, Technology, and Assurance Office (114) develops and implements electronic parts programs that ensure high-quality components perform as expected for JPL projects and instruments. The Component Engineering, Technology, and Assurance Office (114) is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented professional Material Control Administrator II to join the Project Device Engineering team in an Order Desk role. This position plays a critical role in supporting flight and institutional projects by coordinating and managing procurement activities for EEE parts, materials, and related services. The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting and managing the end-to-end procurement support process, ensuring compliance with JPL, Caltech, NASA, and federal procurement requirements while meeting project cost and schedule objectives.

1. Reviewing procurement requests and obtaining moderately complex procurement information (including availability & cost) for EEE parts and related services / items in a timely manner.
2. Preparing and processing Purchase Requisitions (PRs), Procurement Card (P-Card) transactions, and associated procurement documentation.
3. Coordinating with Acquisition Subcontract Managers, Project Parts Engineers (PPEs), Parts Reps, vendors, subsystem leads, and requesters to ensure procurement actions are executed accurately and on schedule.
4. Tracking procurement status, maintaining procurement databases, and providing regular status updates and reports to project stakeholders.
5. Ensuring all procurement documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with institutional requirements.
6. Supporting Return Material Authorization (RMA) activities and material disposition coordination with vendors and internal organizations.
7. Identifying procurement issues proactively to minimize impacts to project schedules and deliverables.
8. Ensure all EEE part acquisitions comply with the JPL Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM).
9. Maintaining organized electronic and physical records related to procurement activities and transactions.

The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills, with the ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced environment. The candidate should demonstrate sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently on important assignments and projects1 with only limited supervision Experience with government, aerospace, NASA, or regulated procurement environments is highly desirable. Familiarity with EEE parts procurement processes and supply chain coordination is a plus.

Qualifications:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree with 3 years of related experience, or Master’s with 1 years of related experience.
• Experience in similar role for purchasing parts, materials or supplies.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement or purchasing roles involving parts, materials, and supplies.
• Strong understanding of the selection, procurement, manufacturing, use, testing, and screening of high-reliability electronic components for space-flight or aerospace applications.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while consistently meeting project milestones and schedule commitments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate across various teams.
• Ability to work independently on complex assignments and projects with minimal supervision, operating effectively under general direction.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented with problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work with cross-functional teams in support of projects, procurement activities, or operational initiatives.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and effectively prioritize tasks from multiple stakeholders to achieve optimal business outcomes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and/or Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to build effective working relationships across diverse teams and organizations.
• Experience with Oracle Purchasing modules and JPL P-Card systems.
• Working knowledge of JPL purchasing requirements, policies, and procurement processes.
• Familiarity with electronic component part numbers, part families, and identification methods.
• Have a proactive approach to issue resolution and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of process improvement, operational efficiency, and workflow optimization initiatives.

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.

Salary:

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California is $78,728 - $93,912.

In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

EEO Statements:

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law. EEO is the Law Supplement Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility.

Legal Disclaimers:

Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.

About JPL:

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech.). JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world-leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space-based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.