Division Head, Science Operations and Engineering Division (SCOPE)

Support NASA missions!  The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi-mission science operations center for NASA's flagship observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman).  Our world-class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland (Click here to learn more about our missions).  This position can support hybrid work.  Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV).  

STScI seeks a Division Head for its Science Operations and Engineering Division (SCOPE).  This division has 80 staff responsible for preparing, planning, and scheduling science, engineering, and calibration observations for the HST, JWST, and Roman space telescopes.  You will work with a team that is passionate about their work in supporting scientific discovery by astronomers from around the world. 

Responsibilities include: 

•    Software architecture, design, development, documentation, resource management, and implementation of products used by the planning and scheduling operations staff and the international user community for
HST/JWST/Roman.
•    Implementation of standard, consistent DevOps processes including but not limited to version control, CI/CD, automated testing, security testing, and application performance monitoring across all SCOPE development teams.
•    Ensures the science operations staff successfully prepare the observations for flight, creates and maintains a long-range observing plan, and delivers the science observations to the Mission Operations Center for HST/JWST/Roman missions. 

•    Ensures the science operations staff provide world-class user support to the international user community.
•    Partnership with the engineering leadership team to implement continual improvement in processes and software development.
•    Automating the integration of software releases with other Divisions and subsystems.
•    Coordinating other teams' activities within and outside of SCOPE to ensure that dependencies are addressed, and project commitments are met.
•    Prioritizing work that crosses mission boundaries.
•    Maintaining a high-quality, diverse staff, including effective recruitment and retention practices.
•    Annual development of the division's financial budget and staff resource allocation across missions' products and processes.
•    Leading leaders: eight branch managers and division office staff.

Qualifications: 

You're an experienced engineering leader with a background in building successful engineering teams, best practices, infrastructure, and staff development.  You enjoy the challenge of embracing past achievements and using them as a foundation for understanding and developing future breakthroughs and best practices.  You have and can successfully manage change.  

You thrive in an environment that offers significant freedom to develop novel solutions, but you also have a demonstrated commitment to on-time deliverables. You embrace both the Agile and DevOps mentalities and believe that engineers should share operations ownership of the systems they build.  You rely on project and resource management tools and can use Agile and Waterfall development best practices to effectively lead and manage projects.   

•    B.S./B.A. in engineering, computer science, information systems, or a related science or math field.
•    Eight or more years leading the development, implementation, and responsive maintenance of complex, interrelated systems, emphasizing the return of the systems.
•    A proven track record of managing a large engineering portfolio spread across numerous teams.

•    Ability to manage the development and delivery of products on a schedule within resource constraints using current best practices.
•    Ability to provide tactical leadership of managers and staff from a broad range of disciplines, experience, and perspectives.
•    Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both within your division and externally, including collaborating effectively with other senior leaders, customers and stakeholders.
•    Excellent verbal, interpersonal, presentation and written skills.
•    Success in advocating for diverse and inclusive teams and work culture.
•    Familiarity with astronomical community, space missions, and/or the academic environment is helpful but not required.
•    Familiarity with the planning and scheduling domain is helpful but not required.

STScI will consider additional relevant education or experience for the stated qualifications. The starting position and salary are commensurate with education and experience.

URL to apply: : https://stsci.slideroom.com/#/permalink/program/74481

Please upload a resume and cover letter by September 15, 2023 will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered until the position is filled.

Any questions regarding the application process can be directed to [email protected]. To see the full job announcement, please visit www.stsci.edu/opportunities