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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Federally funded robot space missions developer

Business Administrator 3

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$96.9k - $151k/yr
Senior
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Pasadena, CA, USA
In Person
Finance & BankingCorporate Finance & FP&A

About the job

Requirements
  • Typically requires a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline with at least 6 years of related experience; a master's degree in similar disciplines with at least 4 years of related experience; or a PhD in similar disciplines with at least 2 years of related experience.
  • Have a broad understanding and experience with JPL budgeting and reporting tools, including the JPL Institutional Budgeting Tool (IBT), Work Force Tool/Anaplan (WFT), Standard Financial Reporting (SFR), and Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE).
  • Understand and have experience using Workday and working with human resources, budgeting, financial analysis, reporting, workforce planning, safety, property, and facility management.
  • Present complex findings clearly and concisely using graphics, tables, and high-level summaries, verbally and in writing.
  • Have advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.
  • Have a broad understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, concepts, and techniques in Business Administration, Financial Planning, Workforce Administration, and Safety and Facility Management.
  • Plan, prioritize, and multitask; complete assignments and independently and collaboratively resolve complex issues.
  • Have a record of building trust with customers and working collaboratively with personnel at all levels, both business and technical.
  • Use tact and discretion when working with critical or confidential data.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure on multiple tasks, meet time commitments, and deliver high-quality work products.
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills, integrity, and customer service.
Responsibilities
  • Assist the Section Business Manager with budget planning and financial analysis, reporting, rewards and recognition, WAM creations, human resources activities, workforce analysis, facilities, safety, and property management.
  • Prepare or coordinate monthly and quarterly scheduled and ad hoc financial analyses, reports, and data requested by management for strategic planning, performance reporting, and forecasting.
  • Prepare Service Department Planning Packages and understand factors affecting Service Department rates and Project Life Cycle (PLC).
  • Analyze the Service Department project base, productive and non-productive work, and workforce needs, and maintain Service Department Work in Process (WIP) orders.
  • Provide budgeting and financial support to section staff for proposals.
  • Present Service Department financials and rate details to upper management.
  • Work with MAMs, CAMs, and Project Leads to identify project needs and impacts to the Service Department and PLC rates.
  • Support the Section Business Manager with requisitions (positions and personnel), promotions, Market Target Point (MTP) discussions, and Annual Salary Review (ASR).
  • Lead NASA and JPL awards administration for the section.
  • Serve as the point of contact and subject matter expert for Workday, onboarding and offboarding, facilities, and safety.
  • Coordinate and prepare monthly and quarterly reporting activities for the section and division.
  • Collaborate with customers to achieve business objectives, increase organizational efficiency, and serve as a liaison on a broad range of business-related issues.
  • Assist in developing, coordinating, and improving procedures to meet JPL administrative and business requirements.
  • Serve as backup to the Section Business Manager for specified functions.
Desired Qualifications
  • Have broad administrative experience in financial analysis, budgeting, cost analysis, asset management, workforce planning, and human resources.
  • Demonstrate the ability to navigate changing project scenarios and project life-cycle costs.
  • Have experience with Oracle financials and requisition modules, as well as Standard Financial Reporting (SFR), Data Extractor, the Institutional Budgeting Tool (IBT), OBIEE Analytics, Power BI, and Workday.
  • Have knowledge of organizational operations, applicable JPL and NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations.

About the company

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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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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Congress funded NASA at $24.4 billion on January 16, 2026, stabilizing JPL.
  • FAME demonstrations started June 2026, targeting near-real-time wildfire and flood alerts.
  • JPL still manages dozens of missions, preserving customer trust and technical relevance.

What critics are saying

  • JPL cut 550 jobs in October 2025 after earlier 2024-2025 layoffs.
  • Mars Sample Return cancellation erased JPL's flagship program and funding base.
  • Persistent budget cuts and telework exodus threaten JPL's Caltech-managed lab model.

What makes NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory unique

  • JPL runs more than three dozen flying missions across Earth science and planetary exploration.
  • Loft Orbital's June 23, 2026 partnership puts JPL AI on orbit.
  • Howard Eisen and Keyur Patel anchor mission success and chief-engineering discipline.

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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.