Job Description

Be Part of Something Innovative

Over the past 25 years, the Space Exploration Sector at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has pushed the boundaries of what is possible; delivering game-changing impacts to sponsors like NASA and the Department of Defense. This includes historic, space science firsts like New Horizons reaching Pluto, Parker Solar Probe being the first spacecraft to “touch” the sun, and the DART mission that redirected an asteroid for planetary defense.

As a not-for-profit university affiliated research center, APL has delivered solutions to our nation’s national security challenges, as proven with the recent Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) technology demonstration, and acts as a trusted partner with the US Space Force in space domain awareness and space-integrated warfare.

APL teams are currently developing missions that will advance the search for life in the Solar System through programs such as Europa Clipper and Dragonfly, exploring the lunar and cis-lunar domains, and providing fundamental knowledge of our Sun’s influence on the near-Earth environment through IMAP and other research and technology endeavors.  We also provide game changing solutions to the most difficult and important national security space challenges. 

To learn about these APL’s mission and projects, visit https://civspace.jhuapl.edu/ and https://www.jhuapl.edu/OurWork/NationalSecuritySpace.

Do you have a passion for leading and inspiring people? Are you excited for opportunities to help develop leaders of both technology and people?

Are you an enthusiastic leader dedicated to developing and nurturing a diverse technical organization that is passionate about engineering innovative Space Systems? 

Are you driven to continuously improve tools, processes, and technology to help an organization evolve?

If so, we are looking for someone like you to join our team in the Space Exploration Sector (SES). 

We are seeking an energetic, forward-thinking leader, problem-solver, and communicator to assist in leading the Space Systems Implementation Branch (SI).

The SI Assistant Branch Supervisor within the SES is part of the sector leadership team and works with the SI Branch Supervisor in the advancement, growth, and sustainment of software engineering, software systems engineering, system test and evaluation, and spacecraft operations capabilities in support of the Civil Space (CS) and National Security Space (NSS) Mission Areas (MAs). The SI Branch is a multi-disciplinary branch and the assistant branch supervisor will help with the identification and advancement of other capabilities in the branch that are not listed.  Breadth of understanding of the engineering disciplines and processes required for these activities and the ability to participate in a leadership cadre for the Branch is more important than technical depth in a single area. 

As the Assistant Branch Supervisor, you will be responsible for…

Branch Leadership:  Work with the SI Branch Supervisor in the development and execution of a branch vision consistent with SES and CS/NSS mission area strategic plans and required capabilities.  Provide forward-thinking leadership in formulating new capabilities and building on existing ones to ensure that APL continues to provide pioneering solutions to sponsor needs.  Assure the flow of techniques and capabilities across mission area lines.  Institute practices to promote and facilitate innovative and successful engineering and technology development contributions by the SI Branch team. Actively identify, develop, and maintain core competencies.  Assist in the selection of, monitor performance of, and provide mentoring for the Branch leadership team.  Develop and maintain a professional work environment that emphasizes the value of diversity and inclusion, stimulates professional growth, and fosters innovations. Develop hiring strategies that assure the branch executes its current work and is poised to support/develop future initiatives.  Develop and execute plans and activities to promote SI staff morale and team building. 

Sector Leadership:  Work with the SI Branch Supervisor, SES leadership team, and other branch/assistant branch supervisors to assure that the mission areas and sector meet strategic and tactical objectives.  This includes assuring that resources are optimally utilized across the sector.  Participate in and contribute to the Space Sector Management Advisory Committee (SESMAC) and Space Quality Committee (SQC).  Ensure collective awareness of issues and risks, and contribute to mitigation strategies and plans.  Proactively work cross-enterprise activities and initiatives.  Work with outside organizations to promote cooperation and teaming.  Establish/maintain effective lines of communication between the SESMAC and the Branch staff.  Develop and manage relationships with peer Branches in other departments to foster exchange of ideas and collaborative developments. 

Branch Management:  Support the SI Branch supervisor in leading all aspects of Branch administration.  Foster group collaboration focused on cross-group capability development.  With the branch and chief technologist, define and implement strategic technology roadmaps.  Ensure appropriate planning and management of all tasks within the Branch.  Work with program area management and SES leadership to establish Sector and Mission Area priorities.  Ensure that the Branch has sufficient resources and processes to accomplish current and future work to include personnel, facility maintenance, and capital/overhead planning.  Work with Project and Mission Assurance leadership, the Chief Engineer’s office, and stakeholders to build efficient and value-added quality processes.  Manage relationships across APL and interact with sponsors to ensure the Branch is making key contributions.  Partner with the mission areas to identify and acquire impactful work.  Ensure the implementation of Laboratory and Sector policies and procedures including QMS and AS9100. 

Technical Work:   Serve on senior level technical review teams across the Branch, Sector, and the Laboratory and the external community.  Provide advocacy for and champion the key technical processes within the SI Branch.  Foster innovation throughout the Branch by ensuring technology plan development/maintenance, active IRAD participation and external proposal submissions.  Ensure excellent quality and timeliness of all the Branch’s efforts. 

Bring Your Experience

We know that everyone comes from different walks of life and brings their own vibrant diversity to the teams they join. You are the right fit at APL if you want to take on our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges in a welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have...

• A BS in a STEM field.
• 7 years of demonstrated ability and experience in the development of space missions and/or complex software systems, and breadth of understanding in the engineering disciplines and processes required for these activities undertaken in the SI Branch (e.g. software development, spacecraft integration & test and/or space mission operations).
• 5 years of proven experience in line, program or technical management with a record of accomplishment of excellent judgment and discretion in the leadership of complex technical efforts.
• Strong knowledge of SES programs, capabilities, and sponsors or have a demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new working environments.
• Demonstrated ability to set direction and implementation plans to achieve goals and build strategic capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization and planning skills with a record of accomplishment in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff, and to cultivate strong relationships across organizational boundaries.
• Are willing and able to travel.
• Hold a Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI. If selected, you will be subject to government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information.  Eligibility requirements included U.S. citizenship.
• Can demonstrate that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To ensure the safety and well-being of the community, APL has established a policy requiring that all staff be vaccinated against COVID-19. All staff members must provide proof of full vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation by their start date.

Respect and Opportunity at APL

While the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory brings world-class expertise to a broad range of challenges, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, innovation ecosystem where you can feel safe to share ideas and to continue to grow personally and professionally. At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas and have earned Best Places to Work accolades in outlets such as Fast Companies and Glassdoor.

Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

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