Standard Job Description

The Payload Launch Site Support Services (PLSSS) program provides mission preparation and execution at Vandenberg, SFB and Cape Canaveral, SFS for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Office of Space Launch (OSL). We deliver capabilities for satellite transportation, propellant loading operations and radio frequency detection, plus the operation and sustainment payload processing and support facilities.

You will lead a skilled team of union‑represented technicians based at Vandenberg SFB, who operate and maintain numerous mechanical systems to ensure mission success for Satellite Transportation, Propellant Loading, Ground Support Equipment and Facilities.

You’ll work closely with Capability Owners, Mission Integrators, Engineers, Technicians, and Planners where you’ll use your education, experience and growing expertise to ensure mission‑critical systems are ready and operate safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

In this role you will:

• Manage a team of skilled union-represented technicians executing mission preparations and operations, fabrication, sustainment, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

• Establish and execute priorities for day-to-day technician tasking by working closely with Capability Owners, Operations Coordinators, Mission Integrators, and Facility Managers

• Ensure compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

• Collaborate with teammates and leadership to ensure priorities are set, tasking is understood, and conflictsare resolved regarding the efforts of your team

• Ensure your team is trained and certified to proficiently perform mission operations, sustainment, and maintenance, and to execute projects on schedule

We're looking for:

• A self-starter who proactively creates solutions to technical, people, process, and resource allocation problems

• A motivated individual to work closely with technical and non-technical teammates to anticipate, avoid, and resolve conflicts

• Someone to balance shifting launch manifests while handling changing priorities, multiple projects and timeline pressure to meet deadlines

Supervises employees or outside contractors who construct, operate, maintain, and repair utilities, systems, buildings, and equipment via one or more of the following trades: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, carpentry, air-conditioning, heating, welding, painting, and/or general maintenance. Sets priorities and performs forecasting and allocates the resources needed to operate systems and complete preventive and corrective maintenance tasks.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience in industrial, aviation, defense, or aerospace environments

• Hands‑on experience with mechanical fabrication, electrical, HVAC, or general equipment operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

• Aptitude to effectively lead a multi-disciplined group of represented technicians

• Experience balancing resources (employees, tasking, and schedules)

• Must be willing and able to work flexible shift hours as needed 

• Must be a United States citizen

• Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance with CI polygraph

Desired Skills

• Collective Bargaining Unit experience as a Supervisor or Lead

• Personnel management experience, especially a hands-on technician workforce

• Experience in shaping requirements and implementing engineering designs for facility/system modifications and activation

• Ability to create an environment of continuous product and process improvement

• Experience with facility or aerospace ground support equipment operation and maintenance

• Ability to interpret technical direction and determine operational effects

• Understanding of test discipline principles and processes

• Strong communication skills

• Process oriented

• Maximo work management system experience

• Full Spectrum Leadership Characteristics: shape the future, build effective relationships, energize the team, deliver results, and model personal excellence, integrity, and accountability

• Effective at conflict resolution

• Active TS clearance