Spacecraft System Safety Manager

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 212,264 - 264,992; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Flexible schedule

Learning opportunities

Job summary

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seeking a Spacecraft System Safety Manager in Pasadena, California. In this critical role, you will manage a team responsible for ensuring the safety of various flight and institutional projects while overseeing compliance with NASA and Air Force requirements.

The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree and possess strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. Competitive compensation ranges from $212,264 to $264,992 annually, along with diverse benefits focused on work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years related experience for Bachelor's degree.
• Strong expertise in System Safety Engineering.
• Ability to anticipate and mitigate problems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of System Safety Engineers.
• Monitor technical and operational safety requirements.
• Support the new business needs, drafting proposals and budgets.

Skills

Leadership ability

Decision-making

Communication

Problem solving

Strategic leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related

Master's degree - 10 years experience

PhD - 8 years experience

Tools

System Safety standards

Project Management

Job description

Spacecraft System Safety Manager (Section Manager)

Location: 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 Spacecraft System Safety Manager, Section Manager of the System Safety Office (1160), will report to the Office of Safety and Mission Success (OSMS) and Deputy Manager. The role includes managing a team of System Safety Engineers (SSEs), Pressure Systems Managers (PSMs), and Lifting Devices and Equipment Managers (LDEMs) supporting JPL Flight and Institutional projects, including suborbital payloads on platforms such as aircraft, balloon and sounding rockets at various stages of the project lifecycle.

• Provide mentoring, guidance, and oversight for SSEs, PSMs, and LDEMs.
• Monitor the implementation of technical and operational system safety requirements, ground‑based pressure systems, and lifting devices and equipment safety requirements.
• Work with different organizations across the lab to ensure JPL, NASA, and Air Force requirements are incorporated into the JPL design process and/or product procurements.
• Oversee the integrity of System Safety Office (SSO) products such as reviewing hazard analyses, Safety Data Packages, Safety Requirement Compliance Matrices or any other product that requires SSO approval.
• Work with other internal organizations such as Quality Assurance, Occupational Safety, Chief Engineer‑Airborne or Fracture Control Board when cross‑coordination is needed.
• Support the new business needs of the SSO, drafting proposals, and developing budgets and forecasts. As necessary, you will provide independent safety assessments on important issues, anomalies and mishaps to support the SSEs and the Office of Safety and Mission Success (OSMS).
• Oversee activities of staff and authorize Human Resource actions including employee recruitment and hiring, training, work assignments, performance assessment, career development, salary management, and employee safety.
• Be part of the NASA Payload Safety Program Agency team members that address Payload Safety processes and requirements for NASA and the Air Force.
• Work with NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO) as needed.
• Work with NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) which has oversight for Aircraft Services.
• Provide guidance and support for Quality and Occupational Health audits.
• Perform section strategic planning. Develop plans and performing supporting actions each year to advance the processes, tools and capabilities of the Section.
• Establish organizational operating policies and procedures.
• Provide system safety support as needed to projects in formulation.
• Lead and/or perform organizational infrastructure centric activities, including the following: develop and maintain System Safety standards, processes, procedures and documentation, such as the System Safety handbook; update and maintain the System Safety Website and Alfresco library.
• Provide ad‑hoc support and work products/deliverables to the OSMS Manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or related discipline with a minimum of 12 years of related experience; Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years; or PhD with a minimum of 8 years.
• Strong leadership ability and proficiency in decision‑making and delegation, change management, product‑line management, communication, time management, problem solving, conflict resolution and strategic leadership.
• Significant expertise in System Safety Engineering or related fields such as Systems Engineering.
• Knowledge of NASA HQ Safety and Mission Assurance, and OSMS practices and policies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of flight processes and process improvement/management.
• Proven ability to anticipate and mitigate problems, seek technical expert advice and outside solutions and rigorously apply engineering discipline and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and mentor high performance teams and maintain effective working relationships with other organizations and customers, both internal and external to JPL.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively with managers and engineers in several disciplines and lab organizations, including line, program and project personnel.
• Knowledge of launch site safety requirements.
• Knowledge of NASA’s Mishap and Close Call Reporting and Investigating procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills.

Preferred Skills

• Significant, demonstrated experience in Mission Assurance Management, Project Management, or Product Delivery Management/Cognizant engineering on flight projects during development.
• Significant experience applying risk management approaches.
• Expert knowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations; ability to apply and communicate those policies and procedures.
• Broad multidisciplinary technical and business knowledge, including Earned Value experience, WBS familiarity and experience working with JPL Service Centers.
• Experienced at performing/managing multiple tasks concurrently.
• Experience with proposals as a proposal team member or proposal manager.
• Experience interacting with Program Offices and The Office of the Chief Engineer.
• Combination of both Flight Project and Line experience.
• Experience in working with foreign partners, and domestic partners in industry and in NASA.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

Benefits and Compensation

JPL offers 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 opportunities; 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.

The typical full‑time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California is $212,264 – $264,992.

Equal Opportunity and EEO 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.

Federal Hiring and Security Requirements

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.