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.

As the Chief Data & Information Officer (CDIO), you are key to the Lab’s Technology strategic focus and organizational success. In this role, you will work across the matrixed organization of JPL to lead and influence the overall direction of the Laboratory with respect to computing and software technologies.

Acting as a member of JPL’s Executive Council, you will interact, partner, and work with senior leaders from across JPL’s directorates. The CDIO will represent JPL’s IT and computing capabilities externally to NASA, other Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and additional partners.

You will be accountable for enterprise and mission IT strategy, planning, architecture, and sourcing, enabling business transformation through digital technologies and with a collaborative approach. The CDIO will provide direct and indirect leadership to multiple functions and act as a Center of Excellence for IT strategy and solutions. You will partner with the various lab directorates, functions, and offices to ensure knowledge, implementation and adherence to the IT strategic goals.

The CDIO provides strategic focus and guidance for Information Technology (IT), software solutions and recommendations, data and analytics, and advanced computing applied across the entire Laboratory, including mission support. The Laboratory follows a federated model for IT, software, data, and advanced computing, with both centralized and specialized capabilities that support the diverse needs of the Lab.

As the CDIO, you will need to quickly establish and build the critical relationships and partnerships to support integrated planning across all stakeholder communities. As a tenacious leader in pursuit of ongoing improvement, you will help create the best version of the Lab’s IT future. You will be a change agent, using your analytical skills, persuasion, and persistence to facilitate JPL’s ongoing IT transformation.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an IT strategy that leverages emerging technologies to support the JPL business strategy.

• Provide direct leadership for a small team focused on IT, data, computing, and software, including directing major organizations and programs across JPL through a matrixed model of reporting, with some direct organizations under your team while also providing indirect leadership throughout the Lab’s IT community.

• Establish and maintain an effective partnership with NASA, enabling the Laboratory’s unique role as NASA’s FFRDC, and supporting our agile and innovative culture.

• Work with accountable organizations to ensure the Laboratory’s information systems are compliant with all standards and requirements set forth in the Prime Contract with NASA and other applicable regulatory agencies.

• Establish a federated governance model for information technology — including data, software, and computing — to improve operational efficiency and innovation.

• Co-chair, with the Director for Engineering and Science, the IT Governance Board, reporting priorities and decisions on a regular basis to the Management Council chairs.

• Partner with the CFO and additional stakeholders on business and enterprise transformation initiatives.

• Proactively seek innovations and creative ideas to drive efficient, cost-effective solutions aligned with organizational goals.

• Partner with the Mission/Project, Engineering and Science, Business, and HR Directors For to understand relevant IT requirements, and to develop those requirements into an integrated and prioritized JPL IT plan.

• Drive innovation by being a visible champion and leader for laboratory infrastructure modernization to significantly improve user work experiences (e.g., reduce tool duplication and complexities, increase process automation, enable data and system integration, etc.)

• Work with stakeholders to continually optimize IT governance and decision-making processes as the business context and technology landscape changes.

• Develop JPL-wide architectures and roadmaps as part of the federated model’s documented strategy.

• Seek to increase the value extracted from information technology through the reuse of data, software, tools, and capabilities across JPL.

• Develop innovative information technology capabilities for engineering, missions, and science to help keep JPL at the forefront of technology and science.

• Establish partnerships with organizations across and outside of JPL to create, adopt, adapt and infuse information technology.

• Partner with senior leaders in cyber-security to coordinate policies, requirements, and their implementation.

• Drive culture change and embrace collaboration and innovation in the application and use of information technology across JPL.

• Deploy a broad range of measures to monitor, analyze, and inform IT performance improvements including establishing metrics, tracking trends, and assessing areas of concentration to create a best-in-class solution.

• Use data and results to provide management with insights and recommendations, as well as execution and action plans.

• Lead and coach team to create a high performing group with positive morale and solid engagement.

• Ensure positive working relationships between the CDIO office and internal and external stakeholders. Assess satisfaction and monitor and refine service level agreements with key stakeholders as needed.

The First Year

• Understand and build appreciation for JPL’s culture and mission.

• Develop a strategic roadmap for IT solutions – including mission support.

• Work with Lab leadership and functional teams to facilitate ongoing IT enhancement projects.

• Develop a plan to prioritize and manage the investment planning for JPL’s federated IT, software, data, and advanced computing enterprise.

• Build effective and collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, NASA, other Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and additional partners.

• Implement analytics, metrics and management dashboards.

• Mentor, lead, develop, and guide IT leadership across JPL.

• Turn data into insights and actionable information and use this information to prioritize key actions.

Qualifications + Success Factors

• Master’s degree with 15+ years of management experience including successful leadership of an organization of similar complexity

• Strategic thinking – ability set a vision and to execute its implementation

• Technical expertise – a thorough understanding of IT, software, advanced computing, and associated architectures

• Project execution – managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and cross-functional/business team members

• Inclusive management with influencing skills and experience that demonstrates an ability to effect change

• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor staff in a team environment where collaboration, engagement, and knowledge transfer are critical

• Experience building strong partnerships, both inside and outside the organization

• Demonstrated ability to interact with senior executives and to influence decisions

• Flexibility, adaptability, and tenacity with the ability to meet deadlines, prioritize demands, and effect creative problem solving

• Robust analytical capabilities with the ability to support decisions and strategy with facts and data

• Experience with managing boards and other cross-organizational bodies

• Proven ability to lead teams in a matrix organization

• In-depth experience in developing and managing a highly skilled workforce; with a knowledge of affiliate and contract workforce requirements

• Excellent communication skills - written, verbal, and presentation

• The selected candidate must be willing and able to obtain a security clearance

• Proof of vaccine status or JPL approved accommodation or exemption required for employment at JPL

• Ability to work hybrid schedule on lab (Pasadena, CA)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within an engineering and/or science community and culture

• Background working with the federal government in a research environment

• Demonstrated ability to create a culture of innovation across an organization

• Proven experience driving new ideas, technologies and capabilities

• Demonstrated collaborations with different external organizations – industry, academia, government, international

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.

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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 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.