The Range Operations & Maintenance Manager works with the Range Program Manager in leading the Range Department and is the primary interface for the overall support of several range functional areas including Range Communications. This includes overseeing all associated technical and administrative support to ensure timely completion of work while meeting or exceeding quality standards. Work is reviewed for compliance with accepted practices and policies.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Provides technical direction and performs technical tasks for all activities in the Range Department and specifically within the Range Communications Systems section.

2. Supervises all activities within the Range Communications Systems group to include assigning tasks and establishing milestones and deadlines to accomplish tasking, develops employee training and development plans, provides input for employee performance evaluations, assists employees with setting goals as part of the performance evaluation process, approves timecards, and counsels employees with performance issues. Ensures employees complete their assigned NASA and Arcata training on-time.

3. Interviews candidates for open positions. Recommends candidates for hire.

4. Implements quality procedures and work instructions.

5. Responsible for tracking, documenting, and evaluating functional performance against MSS Department metrics and for providing a monthly metrics evaluation report to the Range Program Manager. Notifies the Range Program Manager immediately when a contract metric is not met or beforehand when there is a risk of a metric not being met.

6. Effectively interface with the Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) Technical Monitors and Performance Monitors to prioritize tasks.

7. Coordinates and manages real-time operations, preventive and remedial maintenance programs for the equipment assigned to the Range Communications Systems Section. Provides support in the capacity as a system expert. Performs real-time operations, including mission preflight configuration and checkout. Successfully supports combined system test operations. Performs troubleshooting on systems by using calibrated test equipment, analyzes sources of failures, removes, and replaces failed components. Fabricates, assembles, and integrates components, systems, and test devices according to the configuration control requests. Maintains equipment history logs to track maintenance activities.

8. Complies with Range Configuration Change Board processes including Configuration Change Requests (CCRs), System Test Reports (STRs), and Discrepancy Reports (DRs).

9. Proposes new processes based on innovations or in response to negative trends observed during project tracking analysis.

10. Manages and provides developmental engineering support.

11. Responsible for Government and Arcata property assigned to the work areas.

12. When required work directly with vendors to assist with purchasing hardware and software.

13. Serves as the Deputy to the Range Program Manager.

Other Related Duties:

Perform other related duties as required by management to include supporting other work centers during surges. This may include cross training into other function areas to meet overall contract performance objectives.

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Electronics Technology or a similar field.

Experience: At least ten (10) years of related work experience which should include aircraft and/or spacecraft testing and range operations. At least two years of management or supervisory experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this Position:

• Excellent customer service skills
• Computer system literacy. Ability to effectively use word processing and spreadsheet software programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and Excel.
• Technical familiarity with the equipment operated and maintained at the Armstrong Flight Research Center desired.
• Ability to manage a technically diverse workforce.
• Ability to effectively present technical information to various audiences ranging from the customer to the RF&ESS senior management team.
• Ability to read, write and understand English.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government Secret Security Clearance.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Core Competencies:

In-depth knowledge of: operations and maintenance of range systems, including scheduling, procurement and quality assurance systems; Range communications and data systems and Radio Frequency (RF) theory and digital and analog communications theory.

General knowledge of: finance, including the ability to read and understand Company financial data such as budgets; Government contracting.

Ability to: Work under the pressure of a real-time mission environment. Comprehend electronic formulas, drawings and schematics, analyze and troubleshoot electronics systems and sub-systems to the component level. Evaluate the work of all levels of employees. Communicate effectively in both oral and written form; Establish and maintain successful work relationships with those contacted in the performance of this position; Analyze data, resolve problems, and make decisions independently; Work in a team environment; Work under deadlines; Effectively use of word processing and spreadsheet software programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Excel; Conduct Internet research as required; Perform work in an ISO compliant/certified environment.

Skills: Interpersonal skills, people management, conflict resolution, mentoring.

Work Environment, Physical and Mental Demands:

Typical office environment with no unusual hazards, prolonged sitting while using the computer and the telephone and attending meetings, constant use of sight abilities while reviewing documents, constant use of speech/hearing abilities for communication, constant mental alertness. The position requires a significant amount of time utilizing a computer for inputting and retrieving data, reviewing documents, preparing reports and schedules, and responding to emails. The position also requires the individual to be actively involved with day-to-day operations and equipment maintenance as required. The individual is then subject to the same environment and demands as that of his/her work group. The ability to travel as required by the company is also necessary.

Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and use necessary safety equipment when required. Ability to operate heavy equipment, such as man-lifts, fork-lifts, JLG and Genie lifts. Ability to work in extreme outdoor desert weather conditions (wind, cold and heat).

Arcata Associates is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.