Section Manager, Mechanical Design for Space Exploration Applications

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Section Manager, Mechanical Design for Space Exploration Applications to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX .

If selected you will:

• Report directly to the Design and Analysis Group Manager and manage approximately 40 people involved in various aspects of Mechanical System Development.
• Ensure employees follow established procedures and generate finished work products under time and budgetary constraints.
• Ensure Project Managers have adequate Mechanical design personnel to accomplish associated tasks.
• Conduct meetings with Project Managers to provide status and obtain feedback.
• Perform routine mechanical design reviews for cost, schedule, risk management, and deliverable adherence.
• Conduct oversight, mentorship, and guidance to individual mechanical design task leads.
• Work with mechanical design task leads to track and maintain efficient task performance.
• Maintain an agile list of lessons learned to regularly inform section members.
• Conduct failure investigations on mechanical systems as preferred.
• Maintain active related risk management on all associated mechanical tasks.
• Communicate design status to senior management.
• Conduct periodic section meetings to review personnel work safety.
• Conduct periodic face-to-face meetings with employees to obtain status and ensure efficiency.
• Review and approve employee time cards, overtime requests, and travel.
• Review resource requests and conduct interviews to identify and attain necessary personnel.
• Document and perform personnel performance evaluation reviews.
• Generate award nominations for associated personnel.
• Establish and monitor personnel training plans.
• Work with colleagues to coordinate issue resolution across multiple JETS organizations.
• Establish a framework and oversight for technical correctness on all work performed by the section.
• Understand and generate comprehensive design concepts based on requirements.
• Provide rough orders of magnitude (ROM's) and basis of estimates (BOE's) for projects and tasks.
• Review, develop, or update Mechanical Design and Development processes as desired.
• Perform other tasks assigned.

Qualifications:

• Requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and may be expected to have a related master's degree and normally possess 10-15 years of related experience.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience with NASA/JSC Mechanical flight hardware development processes.
• Experience with ASME Y14.5 Dimensioning and Tolerancing Standards.
• Experience with ASME Y14.100 Engineering Drawing Practices Standards.
• Experience with tolerance stackup analysis.
• Familiarity with mechanisms design.
• Familiarity with electronics packaging and cabling.
• Previous project management experience required.
• Must be able to perform management duties associated with approximately 40 people.
• Familiarity with NASA Work Instruction EA-023, JSC Policy Directive 7120 (Class 1E), along with flight hardware certification processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.
• Experience planning and establishing work priorities.
• Proficient in MS Office programs, particularly MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Partially remote; 1-2 week visit at JSC required.
• Prior experience using solid modeling CAD software including PTC CREO or Pro Engineering.
• Familiarization with JSC Engineering Drawing System Manual (JPR 8500).
• Familiarization with JSC Fabrication Tolerances and Practices (SKZ36103755).
• Familiarity with mechanical design for EMI/EMC and electrical bonding methods.
• Familiarity with mechanical design for fluid and pressure systems.
• Familiarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) programs.
• Prior experience with CREO simulation tools.
• Understanding of surface finishes and material selection.
• Exposure to Pro/CABLING.
• Prior experience designing.

Benefits:

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.

Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.