Senior Contracts Manager – Space & Government Programs

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 163,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in Pasadena, CA, seeks a Contracts Manager V to lead expert contractual strategy and execution across government and sponsor contracts. You will supervise multidisciplinary teams, guide executive leadership, and ensure alignment with federal regulations and Caltech/JPL policies.

Ideal candidates bring substantial FAR experience, proven leadership in complex contracts, and strong analytical skills with financial applications and MS Office proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD with 12/10/8+ years of related experience.
• Proven leadership in cross‑organizational teams addressing crucial and complex issues.
• Expert knowledge of FAR and government contracting principles.
• Multidisciplinary and in‑depth knowledge of advanced contract principles and program management.
• Executive judgment and integrity in high‑stakes environments.
• Analytical skills, knowledge of financial applications, and MS Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory support to executive leadership and manage priorities, budgets, and staffing.
• Lead negotiations and execution of high‑level agreements (NDA, OCI, IPA, MOU) with government, civil, and commercial sponsors.
• Review documentation to ensure compliance with Caltech/JPL policies and federal regulations.
• Engage with NOJMO, NASA Centers, Caltech/JPL leadership, and sponsors to align on strategic goals.
• Drive strategic initiatives to enhance efficiency and strengthen compliance posture.

Skills

Managerial leadership

FAR knowledge

Contract negotiations

Analytical skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located in Pasadena, CA, seeks a Contracts Manager V to lead expert contractual strategy and execution across government and sponsor contracts. You will supervise multidisciplinary teams, guide executive leadership, and ensure alignment with federal regulations and Caltech/JPL policies.

Ideal candidates bring substantial FAR experience, proven leadership in complex contracts, and strong analytical skills with financial applications and MS Office proficiency.