Director of Engineering and Tech Ops

SUMMARY

General Description: Provides leadership for all VSA engineering and technical activities. Manages the Engineering and Technical Operations Directorate (ETO) and is responsible for supporting assigned programs, projects, maintenance, and operations through the ETO staff. Responsible for establishing engineering standards, processes, documentation, and metrics.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Manages the staff, budget, and responsibilities of the Directorate. Guides team through daily work activities, monitors employee performance, sets performance goals and deadlines, and provides constructive feedback and coaching.

Coordinates with Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and MARS Directors to ensure requirements are known, formally addressed, and resources committed to support assigned projects.

Manages a complex activity portfolio, ensuring all engineering and technical support requirements are identified, available, and scheduled to meet Spaceport and customer activities.

Ensures all engineering documentation is developed, issued, accomplished, closed, and archived per VSA policies.

Continuously develops an advanced understanding of VSA technical operational systems as a whole and applies that knowledge to prevent unintended conflicts between existing systems and new projects.

Develops employees through leadership and mentoring.

Ensures a safe and healthy work environment for all activities.

Determines, implements, and monitors Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Determines operational support capability requirements as identified by mission needs and anticipates expected challenges.

Creates and manages processes targeted at reducing overall cost while increasing efficiency.

Develops budget and schedule requirements for all assigned programs.

Ensures assigned workforce is adequately trained and held accountable for completion of their respective tasks.

Collaborates internally and externally, communicates, and connects with both senior leaders and employees to improve communication across all VSA functional areas.

Creates and enforces policies and procedures.

Resolves problems identified within the assigned functional areas and develops mitigation plans for preventing similar future problems.

Routinely communicates activities, issues, and concerns to the Spaceport General Manager.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

General Education

College: Bachelor's Degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Major: Engineering or related field

Job-Related Experience: At least seven years of direct, practical work experience in the workplace providing engineering, operations, and managerial leadership to implement engineering projects successfully. Experience as a supervisor/manager is required.

Licenses, etc.: Valid driver's license is necessary when operating a vehicle while on agency business.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering disciplines and industry practices as applied to the operation of technical facilities.
• Familiar with design, construction, activation, operation, and decommissioning of complex systems.
• Knowledge of operational support functions such as logistics, procurement, contracts, equipment maintenance, quality assurance-related process control systems, safety programs related to industrial operations, and environmental regulations as applied to support functions.

Skills:

• Ability to effectively lead people
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Organization and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office or related programs.
• SharePoint experience preferred.

Abilities:

• Time management with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates high professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
• Ability to work with employees at all levels of the organization
• Ability to provide the highest level of customer service to both internal and external customers
• Ability to communicate complex information to non-technical individuals in a more accessible way.

Competencies:

• Leadership
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Adaptability
• Responsibility
• Creativity
• Analytical Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Cultural Awareness

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

In certain situations, employee may be asked to respond to emergencies, during work hours or outside of work hours, based on the needs of the Authority.

Physical Demands:

• Working in an office environment with occasional time required outside in an industrial work environment.
• Sitting
• Using hands to manipulate, handle, or feel objects
• Talking, listening, hearing
• May be required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Employee must be able to occasionally navigate safely in a complex industrial environment with exposure to metal work stands and piping.
• Must have ability to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds

Mental/Sensory:

• Employee conveys information and ideas clearly, both orally and in written English.
• Anticipates, prevents, identifies, and solves problems in the workplace.
• Assimilates complex information. Listens to, comprehends, and clarifies concerns and issues raised by colleagues and clients.
• Emergency situations may present unpredictable scenarios, not anticipated in this job description

Emotional:

• Works well in stressful, high-pressure work environment.
• Maintains composure and objectivity.
• Is respectful.
• Works with diverse personalities and levels.
• Exercises a high degree of discretion when handling confidential data, documents, correspondences, and other information.
• Handles multiple priorities and adapts to frequent change.

Work Environment: Work is generally performed in a typical office setting.

Must be able to obtain and maintain eligibility for issuance of a NASA credential.

Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug test.