Full-Time

Subcontracts Manager 2

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

5,001-10,000 employees

Federally funded robot space missions developer

Compensation Overview

$83.3k - $99.6k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Pasadena, CA, USA

In Person

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)
Required Skills
Market Research
ERP
Supply Chain Management

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Requirements
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related discipline with at least 3 years of related experience, a Master’s degree in similar disciplines with at least 1 year of related experience, or a PhD with 0 years of experience.
  • Experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management, contract management, Federal Acquisition Regulations, or administration of cost-type research and development contracts.
  • Experience in a commercial, government, or academic-related subcontracting environment covering pre-solicitation, solicitation, evaluation and source selection, award, post-award management, and closeout activities.
Responsibilities
  • Manage a diverse portfolio of subcontracts, including technology demonstrations, research studies, proposal and design work, and software and hardware development.
  • Serve as the primary business interface with subcontractors in support of project procurement requirements.
  • Resolve subcontract issues and independently manage assigned subcontracts across their lifecycle, from identifying customer requirements through closeout, with guidance on complex or non-standard issues.
  • Manage the subcontract process from market research and source identification through drafting, solicitation, selection, award, administration, and closeout for fixed-price, labor-hour, and cost-type subcontracts.
  • Develop solicitation documents with a technical counterpart to acquire cost or pricing proposals.
  • Develop negotiation strategies and conduct negotiations concerning delivery, price, technical requirements, and subcontract terms.
  • Manage subcontractor cost, schedule, and quality performance after award with a JPL technical counterpart, ensuring compliance with Laboratory requirements and resolving discrepancies.
  • Negotiate and issue subcontract modifications and ensure timely subcontract closeout.
  • Guide customers through the supply chain process and support acquisition solutions aligned with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory requirements.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with Oracle Purchasing or a similar Enterprise Resource Planning system.
  • Professional designation in government contracts or purchasing management and/or membership in related professional affiliations.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federal research center managed by Caltech for NASA. It designs, builds, and operates robotic space missions for planetary exploration, Earth science, and space-based astronomy, along with technology development. JPL translates scientific ideas into real missions using specialized engineering, software, and mission operations conducted by cross-disciplinary teams, often in collaboration with NASA centers and other partners. Unlike many contractors, JPL functions as a government-run R&D center that directly plans and executes missions from concept through flight operations, ensuring national-space capabilities and scientific discovery stay aligned with NASA's goals. The lab’s aim is to turn bold science questions into working space missions and technologies that advance our understanding of the solar system and Earth, while upholding values of being bold, inclusive, and trusted.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Pasadena, California

Founded

1936

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What believers are saying

  • June 2026 FAME flight demos target near-real-time wildfire and flood monitoring.
  • May 2026 rotor tests advanced next-gen Mars helicopter hardware beyond Mach 1.
  • April 2026 Cal State LA partnership expands JPL’s hiring pipeline and remote-sensing reach.

What critics are saying

  • October 2025 layoffs cut 550 employees, after 2024 reductions of 530 staff and 40 contractors.
  • NASA’s 2026 budget fight keeps Mars Sample Return funding fragile and mission teams exposed.
  • Sustained workforce shrinkage risks JPL losing flight expertise, delaying missions, and weakening institutional survival.

What makes NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory unique

  • JPL’s 2026 FAME demos with Loft Orbital prove on-orbit AI autonomy.
  • JPL’s Mars helicopter program still pushes rotor blades beyond Mach 1 in 2026.
  • JPL combines Caltech research depth with NASA mission execution across robotics and Earth science.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Wellness Program

Paid Vacation

Parental Leave

Childcare Support

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

Associated Press
Jun 23rd, 2026
Loft Orbital to deploy NASA JPL's AI software for real-time Earth disaster monitoring

Loft Orbital has secured an agreement with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to host and demonstrate AI software on its space infrastructure. The collaboration, part of JPL's Federated Autonomous MEasurement project funded by NASA's Earth Science Technology Office, will advance on-orbit AI capabilities for Earth science remote sensing. Flight demonstrations began in June 2026, with additional deployments scheduled through 2028. JPL's AI software aims to reduce data latency by processing information in near-real time, delivering urgent insights on wildfires, flooding and natural disasters to emergency responders. The spacecraft will demonstrate autonomous tip-and-queue tasking without ground intervention using intersatellite links. Founded in 2017, Loft Orbital has flown over 25 missions and operates facilities in San Francisco, Colorado and Toulouse, France.

newsupdates24
Jan 5th, 2025
NASA's Martian helicopter promises unprecedented views of the red planet

Next-generation Mars helicopter prototype (NASA)YOU'LL NOW BE ABLE TO CHARGE YOUR DEVICES ON THE MOONNASA's next-gen Mars helicopterNASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is working on a concept for a next-generation Mars helicopter that could revolutionize exploration of the red planet.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Dec 9th, 2024
William Hayward Pickering

Pickering retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1976 and served for two years as director of the research institute of the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia.

ABC7
Nov 13th, 2024
JPL to lay off 325 employees, about 5% of its workforce, amid budget cuts

JPL to lay off 325 employees, about 5% of its workforce, amid budget cuts.

Pasadena Now
Sep 5th, 2024
JPL Partners with Cal State LA to Boost STEM Diversity Through NASA Grant

JPL scientists will work closely with Cal State LA faculty on this two-year project to strengthen the university's research capacity in remote sensing.