ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - Mission Implementation - Boulder, CO

Who We Are:

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical science research and development organization with over 3200 employees. The Solar System Science & Exploration Division of SwRI pushes the boundaries of space exploration, solar physics, and mission operations. Our experts lead groundbreaking research, develop cutting-edge instruments, and operate space missions that expand our understanding of the universe. Our division is located in downtown Boulder Colorado with over 120 employees.

Objectives of this Role:

• Develop, maintain and analyze assigned sections of an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tracking project technical scope while meeting programmatic requirements. Identify rudimentary program schedule performance problems, develop or track simple solutions and schedule mitigation.
• Apply knowledge obtained from a STEM educational background to collaborate with technical teams and identify tasks, and logistics for instrument development & logistical coordination.
• Use network-driven scheduling and critical path methodology to identify schedule risks.
• Coordinate with technical teams to collect hardware development status and resource load activities.
• Support logistics activities in planning for fabrication and tracking progress and costs of complex spaceflight hardware elements and software.
• Monitor financial status for NASA/NOAA missions, including data collection and analysis for risk-based cost control efforts, compiling financial data for reporting cost validation efforts against ongoing technical work, vendor financial tracking, and cost performance trends.
• Generate monthly cost data, labor hour tracking, financial reports, perform analysis for future spending, and present to various levels of management at SwRI.
• Assist with annual NASA budget request (PPBE) and presentation.
  
  

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Work on mission/instrument projects to create, maintain and analyze an IMS using Microsoft Project or Primavera.
• Produce data/graphics (in Xcel & Visio) to report timeline data, critical path drivers and evaluate schedule risks.
• Based on understanding of technical tasks/challenges, develop what-if scenarios, work arounds & recovery plans to minimize impacts to the project schedule.
• Report key project milestones and activities necessary to achieve project objectives and track progress toward deadlines.
• Assess project programmatic health within the month.
• Identify rudimentary problems for limited scope, develop standard solutions using critical thinking for what-if scenarios, work arounds and recovery plans to minimize impacts.
• Report key milestones and finances to achieve project objectives and track progress toward deadlines.
• Generate monthly deliverables for reporting cost, schedule, and technical milestones.
• Oversee and report on hardware procurement and fabrications. Logistics coordination to track procurements manufacturing and production, and the integration of logistics into schedule management
• Meet and communicate on a recurring basis with team members acting as specialists, technical leads, control account managers (CAMs), deputy project managers, and others assigned tasks to facilitate situational awareness.
  
  

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Astrophysics, Earth and Space Exploration, Engineering Technology, Physics or other related fields with specialized knowledge in space exploration.
• 0 years: Utilize technical, scientific or engineering knowledge of practices and protocols of NASA missions through the lens of technical operations procedures. Ability to prioritize tasks, demonstrate critical thinking, have attention to detail, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills to interact with multidisciplinary teams, ability to exercise good judgment, diligence, follow written and verbal instructions, and communicate utilizing different techniques to build strong relationships.
• Knowledge of project IMS logistics planning, budgeting and forecasting. Ability to learn multiple corporate and customer specific business, financial, schedule and database applications used for mission management.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Scheduling Software (MS Project, P6) and Adobe Acrobat.
  
  

Special Requirements: Work assignment is in Boulder, Colorado. Must be a U.S. person (i.e., U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) due to ITAR work in section. Job Locations: Boulder, Colorado Salary Range: $57,500.00 - $94,432.00