Job Details

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 Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking leader to serve as the Section Manager for Facilities Engineering & Construction.

The Section Manager is an integral part of the Facilities & Logistics leadership team.  Reporting to the Division Manager of Facilities & Logistics, you will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of facilities projects that directly enable JPL’s missions—from new construction and complex infrastructure upgrades to mission‑critical laboratories, clean rooms, and test environments.

As the technical and organizational authority for facilities engineering, design, construction, and compliance, you will guide multidisciplinary teams through all phases of project development, ensuring that institutional needs and mission requirements are met with excellence, reliability, and innovation.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide overall leadership for facilities project delivery, including planning, engineering & design, and construction; manage project-development efforts in close coordination with leadership and technical stakeholders for new buildings, renovations, tenant improvements, and utility/infrastructure upgrades.

• Oversee NASA Construction of Facilities (CoF) project efforts and funding portfolios, including the process for developing candidate CoF projects and responding to budget calls. 

• Provide strategic organizational leadership to strengthen technical, project management, and construction management capabilities across teams. Foster a team-based culture of inclusive excellence, collaborative relationships, and technical rigor where employees feel empowered, valued, and accountable.

• Serve as the engineering authority across electrical, mechanical, civil, and structural disciplines; approve design criteria and technical standards.

• Ensure designs support high‑reliability environments, including cleanrooms, test facilities, laboratories, and mission‑specific integration spaces and fit within the JPL Master Plan.  Lead the integration of facility systems with mission and flight hardware requirements, including power, structural, thermal, environmental, EMI/EMC, and cleanliness constraints.

• Establish long-term infrastructure management strategies and standards and processes for project planning, engineering design, contracting, construction, commissioning, and turnover.

• Provide effective management of fiscal resources, including the development of and compliance with fiscal year and multi-year budgets that support the achievement of institutional goals and objectives, compliant with fiscal policies.

• Manage project management governance across a portfolio of concurrent capital projects, including prioritization, performance metrics, risk management, and resource allocation.

• Facilitate the seamless integration of new projects into short- and long-term maintenance plans, ensuring a high-quality "handshake" between construction and facilities management.

• Oversee construction management activities, contractor performance, quality assurance, field coordination, and safety compliance.

• Maintain and evolve institutional building standards; ensure compliance with NASA, OSHA, NFPA, California building codes, and environmental requirements.

• Leverage data analytics and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to review trends, manage costs, and identify opportunities to improve business operations.

• Lead inspections, audits, and continuous improvement efforts related to facilities engineering and project delivery.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position and field visits around the JPL facility (including office environments, active construction sites, and operational facilities) are required.

The nature of this work may require occasional non-standard hours to meet critical project deadlines and support operational requirements.

Impact
Facilities are foundational to JPL’s ability to explore, discover, and innovate. The Section Manager for Facilities Engineering & Construction plays a critical role in enabling missions by ensuring that our infrastructure, laboratories, and specialized environments are delivered with precision, reliability, and long‑term performance in mind.

Qualifications

• Typically a Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil), architecture, construction management or related discipline with a minimum of 12 years of related experience, or a Master's degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 10 years of related experience or a PhD in a similar discipline with a minimum of 8 years of related experience and 4 years or more of supervisory and/or management experience.

• Proven ability to manage scope and technical performance for numerous and complex projects simultaneously, while maintaining overall budgetary and scheduling control.

• Demonstrated success delivering complex capital projects and infrastructure programs from concept through commissioning.

• Strong knowledge of engineering design processes, construction practices, and mission‑critical facility systems (power, HVAC, utilities).

• Experience with requirements development, system integration, verification, and validation.

• Expertise in risk management, root‑cause analysis, and resolution of technical issues in operational or mission‑driven environments.

• Knowledge of ITAR/EAR export control regulations and compliance considerations.

• Proven leadership experience with a focus on developing high-performing teams, mentoring technical staff, and strategically strengthening organizational capability.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively articulate technical objectives and strategies to all audiences.

Preferred Skills

• Extensive experience managing facilities within aerospace, federal research (e.g., NASA, DOE), or similar mission-driven R&D environments, including familiarity with institutional governance and compliance standards.

• Registered architect, licensed professional engineer, or ability to obtain California license/registration/certification within 3 years of date of hire.

• Experience working within matrixed organizations and coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups to implement organization, administrative and financial goals, and strategies.

• LEED© AP, PMP, DBIA, or related industry certification. 

• Experience working with multiple vendors and contractors in an effective and ethical manner.

• Experience with asset and project management tools such as IBM TRIRIGA.

• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearances, if required.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

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.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

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 U.S. Citizens, 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.