JPL Deputy Director

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a federally funded research and development center managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA, is seeking an exceptional executive leader to serve as its Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer and help shape the future of one of the world's premier aerospace and research institutions, enabling groundbreaking discoveries, advancing national priorities, and supporting missions that expand humanity's understanding of Earth, the solar system, and the universe.

Partnering closely with the Director, the Deputy Director will provide strategic leadership, institutional stewardship, and operational excellence across a complex enterprise of scientific, engineering, and administrative functions. The successful candidate will empower a world-class workforce while strengthening the partnerships, capabilities, and organizational resilience necessary to achieve JPL's ambitious mission now and into the future.

The Deputy Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is appointed by the Vice President/ Director of JPL with the concurrence of the President of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which manages JPL for NASA, and in consultation with the NASA Administrator.

Reporting to the JPL Director, the Deputy Director serves as the Laboratory's Chief Operating Officer, providing executive leadership for institutional operations and mission execution. The Deputy Director leads and integrates the Executive Council, drives organizational execution and accountability, and provides strategic leadership for the Laboratory's workforce. As a strategic partner to the Director, the Deputy Director orchestrates cross-functional coordination among Business, Operations, and Programmatic leadership while maintaining institutional alignment and operational continuity.

The Deputy Director ensures operational excellence, fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, and engages in strategic relationships with NASA, Caltech, the Department of War, Intelligence Community, and Space Force. Through integrated execution across programmatic and institutional functions, the Deputy Director ensures operational excellence across all Laboratory functions, driving continuous improvement while deepening the critical Caltech-JPL partnership.

• Provide executive leadership and ensure integration of the Laboratory's institutional operations, which includes acquisitions, workforce management, infrastructure, facilities, and administrative organizations.
• Partner with the JPL Director to establish institutional priorities, execute strategic initiatives, and advance the Laboratory's long-term vision.
• Continue to strengthen and advance the close and enduring partnership with Caltech
• Serve as Acting Director, when delegated, exercising full authority for Laboratory operations and executive decision-making.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Support and partner with the Director in leading the Laboratory through periods of organizational change while maintaining workforce engagement, operational continuity, and mission success.
• Chair the weekly Executive Council, facilitating Laboratory-wide decision-making, policy development, and organizational alignment.

• Assume a leadership role in the development and execution of JPL’s long-range institutional strategy, which includes aligning workforce, infrastructure, technology investments, and operational capabilities with future mission needs. Ensure Executive Council alignment on institutional strategy and drive integrated execution across programmatic and…