Program Manager V

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 289,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics seeks an operations leader to guide the DIII-D program in San Diego. The role directs planning, execution, and technical performance of major facility operations, engineering, and research-support programs to meet safety, schedule, and financial objectives.

The successful candidate will manage senior staff and cross-functional teams, coordinating with DOE partners and external collaborators to advance world-class fusion research capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in engineering, science, physics, or a related technical field.
• 15+ years of progressively complex program-administration or technical-management experience, including at least 9 years managing significant programs or projects.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with senior management and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Direct all phases of significant DIII-D operations, engineering, facility-development, and research-support programs from concept development through completion.
• Develop program plans, schedules, resource plans, and performance objectives for complex initiatives with multiple facilities and disciplines.
• Consult with senior management to set objectives across technical, schedule, quality, safety, operational, and financial areas.
• Oversee day-to-day facility operations and maintenance of primary systems, diagnostics, infrastructure, and safety-critical capabilities.
• Lead program reviews with DIII-D leadership, GA management, DOE, collaborators, and stakeholders to communicate progress and risk.
• Recruit, develop, and retain management, engineering, and technical personnel; foster safe, productive work environment.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in engineering or science

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

57434BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development, ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless, and laser technologies. The DIII-D National Fusion Facility is the U.S.'s flagship magnetic-confinement fusion research facility, focused on developing the scientific basis and technical solutions for future fusion reactors, including a net-electric-power plant and ITER.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Operations Director to join the DIII-D program. The Operations Director is responsible for the planning, management, and technical performance of significant facility operations, engineering, research-support, and development programs. This position oversees activities from initiation through completion and ensures that technical, schedule, quality, safety, operational, business, and financial objectives are achieved.

The Operations Director leads programs and facility initiatives that support the continued growth and strategic importance of DIII-D as a world-class plasma research user facility. The position applies advanced technologies, engineering methods, and program-management practices to coordinate activities across facility systems, research capabilities, and multiple internal and external stakeholders.

The position typically reports to the DIII-D Director or another senior program or functional manager and accomplishes objectives through subordinate managers, technical leads, and cross-functional teams.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct all phases of significant DIII-D operations, engineering, facility-development, and research-support programs from concept development through completion, including planning, acquisition support, execution, integration, and technical-performance management.

• Develop and coordinate program plans, delivery methods, schedules, resource plans, and performance objectives for complex initiatives involving multiple facility systems, technical disciplines, research activities, and stakeholders.

• Consult with DIII-D and GA senior management to develop and implement current, annual, and long-term technical, schedule, quality, safety, operational, business, and financial objectives.

• Contribute to the development of DIII-D and GA organizational objectives, strategic plans, facility capabilities, and long-range program forecasts.

• Direct the establishment of technical concepts, criteria, requirements, and engineering efforts for facility operations, research capability development, testing, integration, maintenance, and upgrades.

• Oversee day-to-day facility operations and maintenance activities, including primary systems, diagnostics, infrastructure, and other capabilities essential to safe, reliable, and effective DIII-D operations.

• Develop and manage operating budgets, resource plans, schedules, and performance measures. Direct and coordinate the preparation of program plans, work statements, specifications, operating budgets, and other planning and control documents.

• Interact with senior management concerning matters of significance to DIII-D and GA. Serve as a primary point of contact for significant operational, technical, schedule, resource, safety, and program issues.

• Lead program and facility reviews with DIII-D leadership, GA management, the Department of Energy, research collaborators, users, and other stakeholders to communicate cost, schedule, technical, operational, and safety performance.

• Identify program and facility issues and provide leadership in developing solutions, including reallocating resources, revising schedules, modifying technical approaches, or adjusting requirements and implementation plans.

• Ensure that technical leadership and excellence are maintained by directing and participating in the planning, recruitment, selection, retention, development, and organization of management, scientific, engineering, technical, and administrative personnel.

• Lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse workforce, typically including scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. Foster effective communication, collaboration, accountability, professional development, and a safe and productive work environment.

• Ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements, policies, procedures, and regulatory obligations. The Operations Director has the authority to stop, redirect, or modify an operation or project when necessary to protect personnel, the facility, the environment, or research assets.

• Support the development of new facility capabilities, research opportunities, strategic partnerships, and other initiatives that enhance the capabilities and long-term value of DIII-D.

• Collaborate with researchers, technical staff, external institutions, government representatives, and other stakeholders to support experiments, facility use, technical planning, and execution of the DIII-D program.

• Maintain appropriate protection of proprietary technology, controlled information, and other sensitive information, and ensure the confidentiality of such information.

• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications:

Typically requires a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in engineering, science, physics, or a related technical field, as well as 15 or more years of progressively complex program-administration or technical-management experience, including at least 9 years managing significant programs or projects. Equivalent experience may be substituted in lieu of education.

The successful candidate must:

• Demonstrate detailed and extensive knowledge of program-management principles, concepts, practices, and tools.

• Demonstrate comprehensive leadership skills, including organizing, planning, scheduling, budgeting, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines and milestones.

• Have substantial experience managing complex scientific, engineering, technical, or facility programs and leading large multidisciplinary teams.

• Have experience developing program plans, operating budgets, work statements, schedules, performance measures, and technical deliverables.

• Possess a strong technical background in fusion devices, plasma physics, scientific research facilities, engineering systems, or related technologies.

• Demonstrate the ability to develop solutions to complex problems requiring ingenuity, creativity, and sound judgment.

• Demonstrate the ability to assimilate complex information, evaluate alternatives, make timely decisions, and implement effective action plans.

• Possess strong communication, leadership, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills sufficient to interface effectively with departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, research collaborators, government representatives, and external institutions.

• Demonstrate the ability to build effective working relationships and trust, motivate personnel, and promote a collaborative and constructive management environment.

• Demonstrate experience managing safety, facility protection, regulatory compliance, and operational risk in a complex technical or research environment.

• Be able to lead activities involving multiple simultaneous projects, technical disciplines, stakeholders, and organizational priorities.

Job Category:

Engineering

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle:

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Hourly

Pay Range Low:

155,370

Pay Range High:

289,320

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

Yes

US Citizenship Required?:

No

Clearance Required?:

No

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC's "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.