Engineering Department Manager

Engineering Department Manager

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Around here, we define the future.

We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely. On the Human Health and Performance Contract we are at the forefront of safeguarding astronaut health, ensuring human performance, and advancing technologies for human space exploration. We are seeking an Engineering Department Manager at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX.

In this role, you play a pivotal leadership role in the department’s project execution, resource allocation and support of team members to achieve our goals. The department’s disciplines include Human Factors and Habitability, Project Management, Project Engineering, Systems Engineering, Design and Fabrication, Hardware Testing, Sustaining Engineering and Integration, and Food Production.

You serve as the primary customer interface for the NASA Human Health and Performance Division Chief and NASA Engineering Directorate Division Chiefs. You provide strategic and technical oversight and serve as the K  administrative manager for K  managers within the department and for additional staff, as required. You will:

• Lead 200+ employees
• Lead, mentor, and guide the Engineering Department managers and leaders
• Coordinate, prioritize and allocate resources
• Ensure projects are completed within budget and schedule
• Identify strategies to exceed customer expectations and areas of collaboration
• Perform administrative tasks associated with department leadership

You bring experience leading complex hardware projects and integrating with other organizations. You use your experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals, negotiate with other department managers to support integrated projects, ensure contract wide management policies and procedures are effectively implemented, and enable integration, collaboration, and innovation to exceed expectations. You will also identify corrective and preventive actions and drive those to closure, implement lessons learned and best practices, and participate in company and customer status reviews.

You comply with K ’s Safety, Health and Environmental Plan, Quality Plan, and all safety policies and procedures, and complete all assigned training.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field
• Minimum of 10 years progressive relevant technical, management, and leadership experience
• Preferred 15 years of relevant experience and familiarity with NASA contracts and processes

• Demonstrated leadership qualities to inspire and build a culture of teamwork and quality
• Demonstrated project monitoring and control experience
• Understanding of NASA Flight Hardware development requirements and processes
• Familiarity with the identification and execution of process improvement initiatives
• Familiarity with project management practices and working with Business Office/Program Office on staffing and other financial challenges
• Participation with Corporate Entities including but not limited to Business Development on behalf of proposal development, contract collaboration, and strategic initiatives
• Demonstrated leadership experience on complex technical projects; ability to manage resources, priorities and customer communication
• Demonstrated experience making timely and effective decisions driving projects and personnel decisions forward in a positive manner
• Effective at handling multiple tasks, responding quickly to change, and being flexible
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Experience with difficult situations and personnel resulting in positive outcomes
• Ability to interact across organizations and all levels of personnel

This position is expected to be 100% on site and in person. Occasional travel may be required.

At K , we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to an ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team’s philosophy and foster an…