Material Control Administrator III

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 98,000 - 116,480; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and

Paid time off

Learning

Rideshare

Childcare

Flexible schedule

Parental leave

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an experienced procurement specialist to manage requests for EEE parts, obtain budgetary quotes, and process PRs and P-Card transactions.

You will coordinate with Acquisition Subcontract Managers, Project Parts Engineers, vendors and internal teams to ensure procurement actions are completed on schedule, maintain records, support RMA activities, and ensure compliance with SCRM.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 6 years of related experience or Master’s with at least 4 years.
• Experience in purchasing parts, materials or supplies.
• Experience in procurement or purchasing roles for parts, materials, and supplies.
• Strong understanding of high-reliability electronic components for space-flight or aerospace.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet milestones.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with analytical/problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and prioritize tasks from multiple stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Review procurement requests and obtain budgetary and vendor quotes for EEE parts and services.
• Prepare and process PRs, P-Card transactions, and related procurement docs.
• Coordinate with Acquisition Subcontract Managers, Project Parts Engineers, Parts Reps, vendors, subsystem leads, and requesters to ensure procurement actions are executed on schedule.
• Track procurement status, maintain procurement databases, and provide status updates to project stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with requirements.
• Support Return Material Authorization (RMA) activities and material disposition coordination with vendors and internal organizations.
• Identify and resolve procurement issues proactively to minimize impacts to project schedules and deliverables.
• Ensure all EEE part acquisitions comply with the JPL Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM).

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

• Reviewing procurement requests and obtaining budgetary and vendor quotes for EEE parts, materials, and related services.
• Preparing and processing Purchase Requisitions (PRs), Procurement Card (P-Card) transactions, and associated procurement documentation.
• 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.
• Tracking procurement status, maintaining procurement databases, and providing regular status updates and reports to project stakeholders.
• Ensuring all procurement documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with institutional requirements.
• Supporting Return Material Authorization (RMA) activities and material disposition coordination with vendors and internal organizations.
• Identifying and resolving procurement issues proactively to minimize impacts to project schedules and deliverables.
• Ensure all EEE part acquisitions comply with the JPL Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM).
• Maintaining organized electronic and physical records related to procurement activities and transactions.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 6 years of related experience, or Master’s with a minimum of 4 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 technical and non-technical 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 strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary 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.

Benefits

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique.

• health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans
• paid time off
• learning
• rideshare
• childcare
• flexible schedule
• parental leave
• 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 Range

$98,176 - $116,480

Equal Opportunity Statement

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. 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.

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.