Table Mountain Facility (TMF) Maintenance & Operations Lead

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 161,000 - 212,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory is seeking a Facilities Maintenance and Operations Engineer V to serve as the lead technical authority for the Table Mountain Facility (TMF) located near Wrightwood, CA. You will manage day-to-day operations, safety, and long‑term capital planning for remote infrastructure including power, cooling, and water systems.

The role requires extensive experience in facilities or engineering operations at remote sites, and the ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders,

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree with 12 years’ related experience; or a Master’s with 10 years; or a PhD with 8 years.
• Experience managing facilities or engineering operations in remote, high-altitude locations with severe winter weather and wildfire risks.
• Proven project management leading complex infrastructure upgrades and technical engineering projects.
• Experience supporting 24/7 operational environments where downtime impacts critical research.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities maintenance, operations, and subcontractor oversight.
• Manage capital improvement projects from planning through closeout.
• Develop preventive and corrective maintenance schedules that minimize disruption to operations.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external agencies to meet objectives.

Skills

Facilities management

Remote site operations

Project management

Safety/compliance

Contract coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Structural Engineering or related

Master’s degree in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

MAXIMO/ Meridian CMMS

Bluebeam Software

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.

The Facilities and Logistics Operations Division oversees the physical development, maintenance, and safe operation of the Laboratory’s infrastructure to enable advanced workplaces, resilient systems, and uninterrupted mission support. Within this division, the Facilities Operations Section, which assumes end-to-end ownership of the physical work environment and responsibility for the overall physical maintenance and safe operation of the Laboratory, is seeking a facilities Maintenance and Operations Engineer V to serve as the lead technical authority for the Table Mountain Facility (TMF).

Located near Wrightwood, California, in the Angeles National Forest, TMF is a premier, remote site facility operating under a permanent, non-expiring permit with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The site also maintains key multi-agency partnerships, including a specialized facility permit with the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

Based on-site at the Table Mountain Facility, the selected candidate will report to the Facilities Management Group Supervisor and step into a lead-level role responsible for the overall reliability, maintainability, compliance, and strategic oversight of TMF's complex infrastructure, ranging from remote power grids and industrial cooling arrays to standalone, self-sustained water loop operations.

In this critical capacity, the selected candidate will not only ensure day-to-day operational excellence but will also direct the engineering strategy to support future site developments and the integration of new hosted facilities.

Tasks

• Manage and oversee various facility and capital improvement projects from initial planning and cost estimation through design, procurement, construction, and closeout (including concrete pads, asphalt repair, facility roof replacements, and telescope pier/ray dome modifications).
• Provide senior technical leadership and oversight for the facilities maintenance, operations, and subcontractors.
• Conduct quality inspections, identify work deficiencies, and ensure strict compliance with contractual performance standards.
• Serve as the Contract Technical Manager (CTM) for the security/custodial subcontract.
• Partner closely with the Subcontracts Manager (SCM) to jointly direct contract execution, oversee vendor performance, and maintain productive relationships with subcontractor personnel to meet all operational objectives.
• Serve as the primary on‑site coordinator and facilities engineering point of contact for external subcontractors and collaborators, utility providers, USFS or forest service rangers, USAF/military point‑of‑contacts, and internal technical stakeholders.
• Interface with various organizations internally including Acquisition, Contracts Management, Engineering & Science Directorate technical staff as well as JPL’s Real Property Administrator and the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO) for permits/permit mandates and lease agreements to ensure alignment with operational requirements.
• Develop, prioritize, and manage preventive and corrective maintenance schedules that seamlessly accommodate active scientific operations, minimizing disruptions to telescopes, lasers, and optical communication ground stations (such as the O2O optical terminal).
• Oversee the procurement and technical tracking of facility materials, maintenance supplies, replacement parts, and specialized equipment.
• Ensure all site operations, civil alterations, and maintenance adhere to NASA, JPL, OSHA, fire/life safety, and environmental regulations, including hazardous waste handling, environmental stewardship, and sustainability initiatives.
• Act as the technical authority for the end‑to‑end reliability and safe operation of complex, remote‑site infrastructure, including high‑voltage/3‑phase electrical distribution, critical surge mitigation systems, industrial glycol chillers, and standalone water/pump utilities.
• Ensure the proper routine operation and maintenance of site roads, parking areas, drainage systems, and perimeter civil infrastructure.
• Drive emergency preparedness planning, continuity of operations, wildfire mitigation, severe weather (heavy mountain snow/wind) response, and rapid disaster recovery activities.
• Provide after‑hours support and coordinate immediate responses to critical system failures.
• Coordinate and track employee and subcontractor safety training, industrial equipment certifications, and operational qualifications required for remote‑site work.
• Manage site fleet operations, fuel storage and distribution systems, regular equipment inspections, and preventive maintenance for all facility vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Ensure the integrity of the facility's perimeter fencing, automated main gates, badge reader infrastructure, and facility security camera networks.
• Conduct routine facility condition assessments to identify infrastructure renewal and deferred maintenance priorities, driving long‑term capital planning, budgeting, and cost control.
• Utilize CMMS platforms to maintain precise asset inventories, operating procedures, permits, and maintenance records.
• Lead continuous process‑improvement initiatives focused on operational reliability, efficiency, customer service, cost reduction, and the elimination of redundant or low‑value operational tasks.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a similar related discipline with a minimum of 12 years of related experience; OR Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of related experience; OR PhD with a minimum of 8 years of related experience.
• Proven experience managing facilities or engineering operations in remote, high‑altitude, mountain, or environmentally challenging locations subject to severe winter weather and wildfire risks.
• Demonstrated project management experience leading complex infrastructure upgrades, facility renovations, or technical engineering projects from inception through completion.
• Demonstrated success supporting 24/7 operational environments where facility downtime directly impacts scientific, aerospace, optical, or astronomical research operations.
• Strong technical familiarity with heavy infrastructure systems, specifically industrial cooling (glycol chillers), complex electrical distribution, automated transfer switches, and standalone water infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a federal government, aerospace facility, or high‑security laboratory setting.
• Expertise in electrical arc flash hazard analysis and mitigation.
• Working knowledge of CMMS platforms such as MAXIMO or Meridian.
• Experience using Bluebeam Software as a review and documentation tool.

Work Location

Work location: Table Mountain Facility (TMF). Wrightwood, CA. Note: The nature of this work may require occasional non‑standard hours to meet critical project deadlines and support operational requirements.

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.

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. 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. The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $160,576 - $212,160

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.