Mission Assurance Manager

Job ID: 2098

The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) supports a variety of missions, including NASA's vision to reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind and the Department of Defense's aim to protect our nation on the ground, in the air, and in space. Our sensors, satellites, software systems, and science and engineering play an essential role in some important missions you've heard of, and others that you haven't. Join our team in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.

We are seeking an experienced Mission Assurance Manager to join our team. The selected candidate will report to the Quality, Safety & Mission Assurance Manager and perform mission assurance and quality-engineering activities in support of meeting mission requirements and ensuring mission success. Duties include frequent customer communication and interactions; developing and implementing mission assurance plans; ensuring required analysis and predictions are identified, coordinated, and completed; and further defining and implementing mission assurance policies, procedures, and tools across the lab. A strong background in quality engineering principles is also preferred.

The selected candidate may also be involved with supporting various activities associated with several of the organization's AS9100D-certified Quality Management System (QMS) processes.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Provides technical vision and leadership to promote the development of mission assurance objectives and initiatives
• Coordinates mission assurance efforts across multiple programs
• Frequent and in-depth communications with customer representatives regarding mission assurance requirements, expectations, and activities
• Works with program personnel to define, assess, and analyze mission assurance requirements and identify impacts to the customer
• Reviews mission designs and coordinate with others to assure appropriate mission design, test, and execution efforts
• Coordinates, tracks, and reviews various mission assurance analyses and tasks performed by project and lab personnel
• Provides support and direction to Project and Quality Assurance Engineers
• Reviews proposals to identify and ensure compliance with mission assurance objectives and quality requirements
• Actively represents mission assurance/quality engineering during critical design and test readiness reviews
• Coordinates, processes, and dispositions nonconforming products and anomalies
• Creates and reviews customer and subcontract deliverables

• An undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering, project management, or related field with demonstrated leadership experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience in mission assurance
• Mission assurance experience in aerospace and/or defense industries
• Knowledge of complex aerospace and ground systems hardware, processes, and systems related to manufacturing, integration, testing, and/or launch operations
• Experience with identifying, quantifying, managing, and tracking system/product-level risks
• Demonstrated ability to understand and manage multiple stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven ability to resolve interdisciplinary technical anomalies and establish appropriate processes
• Knowledge of the ISO 9001 or AS9100D Quality System Standards
• Experience and knowledge with majority of following: FMECA, FRB, reliability analysis, radiation analysis, system safety, EEE parts screening/selection, WCA, parts stress analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to work well independently or on a team
• Ability to facilitate and promote use of problem-solving techniques for effective root cause analysis and successful corrective action implementation
• Active DoD security clearance or ability to obtain one

• 10+ years of relevant experience in mission assurance supporting a class A or class B mission
• Other relevant experience with the aerospace community (civil space and military customers - e.g. NASA, Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, Intelligence Community, etc.)
• Experience in mentoring engineers in all aspects of mission assurance

• Flexible work schedules
• Generous annual, sick, and holiday paid leave
• A variety of inexpensive-premium, high-quality health, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Generous employer retirement contribution (up to 14.2% of annual gross earnings)
• Discounted Utah State University (USU) tuition of 50% for employees and dependents
• Access to USU facilities and USU staff privileges

For questions or assistance with the application process or the DoD SkillBridge program, please contact employment@sdl.usu.edu.

EOE including Disability and Vet