Technical Project Manager

Position Title:                         Technical Project Manager  

FLSA Status:                           Full Time/Exempt

Location:                                 This is a REMOTE Position     

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 POSTION SUMMARY: 

 The Pandora SmallSat is a flight project designed to study the atmospheres of exoplanets. It was selected as part of NASA's Astrophysics Pioneers Program and is expected to launch in 2025 followed by a year of science operations. Pandora's goal is to disentangle star and planet signals in transmission spectra to reliably determine exoplanet atmosphere compositions. Pandora will collect long-duration photometric observations with a visible-light channel and simultaneous spectra with a near-IR channel. The broad-wavelength coverage will provide constraints on star spots and quantify the impact of these active regions on exoplanetary transmission spectra. Pandora will observe at least 20 exoplanets with sizes ranging from Earth-size to Jupiter-size and host stars spanning mid-K to late-M spectral types. The project is made possible by leveraging investments in other projects, including an all-aluminum 0.45-meter Cassegrain telescope design, and a NIR sensor chip assembly from the James Webb Space Telescope. 

The Pandora Science Operations Center (SOC), located at Goddard Space Flight Center, is tasked with confirming the target list and generating an observing schedule called the Science Calendar that will be periodically delivered to the Mission Operations Center (MOC) at the University of Arizona. The MOC uses the Science Calendar as a component of the spacecraft command generation process. This position is for a Technical Project Manager for the Pandora Science Operations Center to schedule and manage the activities that are required to meet mission success. The Technical Project Manager will also lead and organize the outreach activities for the Pandora mission.

Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Lead the organization of the Pandora Science Operations Center activities.

• Oversee the development and implementation of the Science Calendar, ensuring alignment with mission objectives and science requirements.
• Establish and document the end-to-end data flow, from target list confirmation to spacecraft command generation, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor a comprehensive schedule of SOC activities, identifying critical milestones and interdependencies with the Mission Operations Center (MOC) and other stakeholders.
• Implement and oversee task management systems to ensure team accountability and timely completion of deliverables.
• Identify, document, and track both short-term deliverables (e.g., Science Calendar updates) and long-term objectives (e.g., overall mission goals).
• Act as a primary liaison between the SOC, the Pandora Science Team, the MOC, and other external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and communication.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation for data pipelines, including step-by-step workflows and troubleshooting guides, to ensure operational continuity and enable knowledge transfer.

Lead the Pandora outreach activities.

• Design and execute outreach strategies to enhance public and scientific community engagement with the Pandora mission.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in astronomical conferences and other public engagement events, representing the Pandora mission and NASA’s broader science initiatives.
• Develop high-quality outreach materials, including presentations, reports, visualizations, and web content, to effectively communicate mission goals, milestones, and results to diverse audiences.
• Establish and maintain a tracking system for mission-related publications, ensuring proper attribution and accessibility to relevant audiences.
• Collaborate with NASA’s public affairs and outreach offices to integrate Pandora mission activities into broader NASA outreach efforts.

Participate in Pandora Science Team activities.

• Provide editorial and organizational support for publications, including drafting, proofreading, and managing deadlines for submissions.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in astronomy, physics, computer science, engineering, or a related field is highly desirable. At least two years of relevant experience is required.
• Prior experience leading interdisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration, and driving projects to successful completion.
• Experience developing and maintaining comprehensive schedules, ensuring that all project milestones and deadlines are met.
• Proficiency with task management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, or equivalent) to assign, track, and manage deliverables effectively.
• Understanding of and experience in project management methodologies, such as Agile, Lean, or other iterative approaches.
• Familiarity with programming languages (e.g., Python) and tools commonly used in astronomical data analysis and mission planning.
• Experience working with astronomical data, open-source coding practices, software packaging and documentation. 
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, and adapt to dynamic project requirements.
• Strong ability to create and maintain detailed, organized documentation for workflows, processes, and systems.
• Experience developing operational guides, manuals, or knowledge repositories to ensure consistency and accessibility.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) for managing documentation updates.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing outreach activities, such as organizing events, conferences, or public engagements.
• Experience creating outreach materials, including presentations, reports, or digital content, to effectively communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Perform computer tasks and participate in (virtual or hybrid) team meetings.
• Salary and Benefits:
    Salary range: $75K–$93K. The SETI Institute offers competitive benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

 Diversity and Equity:
  The SETI Institute is an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities.