Deputy Section Manager, Quality Assurance Office

Company: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Location: Pasadena
Posted on: April 3, 2021

Job Description:

Deputy Section Manager, Quality Assurance Office 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 Quality Assurance Office is responsible for ensuring that hardware and software products work in the extreme conditions of space by providing independent verification that the critical requirements are implemented correctly during fabrication, integration, test and launch. We are currently working on a mission to Europa, a spacecraft to return samples from Mars, many Earth Science projects as well some in the National Security area and more! You will assist the section manager with leading a group that is team based, improvement oriented and believes that work can be fun. As the Deputy Section Manager, you will assist with providing leadership of a section, including 9 group supervisors and approximately 150 technical personnel deployed to planetary flight missions, earth science, Special and Tailored project customers, including engineers and technical specialists in hardware, software and procurement assurance, Training, Tools, Technology and Tracking, and Inspection.-- Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop section operating methodology and strategy, in collaboration with the Section Manager, on topics such as long-term staffing strategy, technical charter, personnel management and career development, training, and development and deployment of hardware and software quality assurance personnel.
• Provide guidance to section staff and management team in maintaining skills and capabilities necessary to fulfill section's responsibilities in the areas of hardware and software quality assurance practices and principles used in the build of flight projects.
• Interact with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peers involving matters between functional areas, and other Laboratory organizations and customers.
• Manage and lead the planning, design and implementation of specific organization and/or Laboratory initiatives and improvements.
• Develop and oversee operating budget; advising management on financial impact of new initiatives related to budgets.
• Manage the Section infrastructure, including AS9100 compliance, strategic planning, Service Center budget and workforce planning.
• Lead all aspects of and facilitate special initiatives, software upgrades, audits, Laboratory initiatives, etc. Qualifications:
  • Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or related technical discipline with a minimum of 12 years of related experience; Master's degree in similar disciplines with a minimum of 10 years of related experience; or PhD in similar disciplines with a minimum of 8 years related experience. Minimum of 4 years of supervisory and/or management experience with line or program/project organizations
  • Knowledge of best industry practices in Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Management
  • Multidisciplinary and in-depth expertise regularly used in the application and development of advanced principles, theories and concepts in Procurement, Hardware and/or Software Quality Assurance
  • Significant experience in the technical and managerial aspects of developing/delivering space flight hardware and/or software
  • --Recent management experience in flight project operations or flight project development or demonstrated experience in the management of quality assurance personnel
  • Strong leadership ability and proficiency in decision-making and delegation, change management, financial/cost management and strategic leadership
  • 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
  • Extensive knowledge of flight software and hardware project development processes and practices, materials and processes for space flight applications, flight electronic and mechanical parts and the qualification levels for various in-flight applications
  • Excellent communication and writing skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build teams, resolve conflict and coach employees
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and develop strategic plans
  • Thorough understanding of AS 9100 and other Quality Management Systems
  • Strong process improvement skills and experience leading teams using Quality principles/tools to identify issues, implement solutions and measure results
    Preferred Qualifications:
    • Familiarity with JPL line management practices and experience with effective line-project-program interaction; minimum line or project management experience of 5 years
    • Strong knowledge of Laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications
    • Ability to understand, develop and utilize relevant metrics and statistics
    • Experience with leading flight activities in all aspects of the project lifecycle. Familiarity with all phases of hardware and software development associated with spacecraft and/or instruments
    • Familiarity with leading a workforce in a Service Center environment
    • Strong working knowledge of Procurement Quality Assurance (PQA), Hardware Quality Assurance (HQA) and Software Quality Assurance (SQA) processes/practices in a flight project environment
    • Experience with Team Building approaches, surveys, training and coaching is preferred
    • Current TS/SCI security clearance is preferred 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. 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 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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.

Keywords: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena , Deputy Section Manager, Quality Assurance Office, Executive , Pasadena, California