Engineering Risk Management Lead

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the most powerful ground-based telescope ever engineered. It was designed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and discover the unknown. With unmatched image quality, seven of the world’s largest mirrors will launch our view into the universe to uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

The 30-meter class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the heavens. From this unrivaled vantage into the southern sky, the Giant Magellan Telescope will produce the sharpest and most detailed images ever taken of our universe.

When complete in the late 2020s, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest public-private funded science project in history. The endeavor was founded by an international consortium of leading universities and research institutions representing five countries, and is managed by the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pasadena, California. Our culture is impactful, inclusive, and fearlessly innovative. We solve the most difficult engineering challenges and scientific questions with talented individuals who share a passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe.

We invite you to join our team and leave your mark on astronomy’s future and beyond.

The Universe Awaits.

Systems Engineering

Project Systems Engineer

GMTO’s Systems Engineering group is pursuing a highly qualified Risk Management Lead to work under minimal supervision, reporting to the Project Systems Engineer.

The Engineering Risk Management Lead will maintain the Risk register and will serve as the Executive Secretary for the Risk Board. The selected candidate will schedule the monthly or as-needed the Risk Board meetings and work with the Project Manager(s) to set the Risk agenda, take minutes, maintain action items for the Risk Board meetings and follow-up with the System Engineers and other Element Managers to ensure closure of action items.

Responsibilities also include leading the risk and opportunity integration into cost and scheduling exercises led by the Project Business office in accordance with NSF (National Science Foundation) best practices. This position requires effective tracking, identification and management of project risks. The selected candidate will ensure that all relevant personnel are aware of risk responsibilities to improve the processes, procedures, quality, performance, and consistency of data is maintained to optimize efficiencies.

Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to work in a team environment will be key requirements of this position.

• Facilitate the effective identification and management of project risks, mitigations, and impacts
• Maintain accuracy and timeliness of the Risk register and generate timely reports
• Effectively coordinate and schedule Risk Board meetings with the technical leads and manage the meetings
• Document Risk Board meetings and action items
• Develop and maintain effective communication with all team members
• Follow up on action items, track issues, ensure the technical leads are identifying, updating and addressing risk mitigation issues on their project
• Follow up on any incident to accurately document the issues
• Integrate Risk and Opportunity Management with Cost/Schedule monte carlo simulations
• Perform all assignments in accordance with ES&H standard practices, GMTO business practices requirements and policies, and NSF best practices.

• Minimum of an AS degree in Risk Management or related field. May substitute professional experience for formal education on a year for year basis
• Previous experience working with and maintaining a quantitative risk database system such as Primavera Risk Analysis for completeness and accuracy
• Previous experience working in a project team in a technical environment with the ability to understand principles and processes of risk management in areas such as estimating, planning, scheduling, safety, quality, cost control, change and value management
• Ability to assist in the identification of risk issues in a clear and objective manner
• Ability to understand technical issues, discussions, work as a team member with a broad set of objectives to resolve issues with project leads regarding risk mitigation
• Ability to be detail oriented, monitor tasks, and track issues with follow through on assignments
• Proficient with MS (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Self-motivated with the ability to positively and successfully respond to changing priorities and tight time constraints
• Ability to take notes, summarize tasks, excellent listening skills, and effectively communicate verbally and in writing with project leads
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills: well organized, reliable, and proactive in dealing with others

• Experience with Risk and Opportunity management on Large Scale construction projects for the National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Experience with ground-based astronomical observatories

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k)

GMTO has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective March 14, 2022, requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees (with GMTO-approved exemptions for religious or medical reasons only). At present, an individual is deemed “fully vaccinated” for Covid-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine. GMTO management may revise the definition of Fully Vaccinated in this Policy based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force or other relevant Government or Health agencies. Any changes will be communicated to all employees before its effective date.

As a condition of employment, employees must submit official COVID-19 vaccine documentation.

$120,000- $160,000

The salary for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, and training.

To apply send your resume and a cover letter to careers@gmto.org.

If your skills and experience are a match for the position or if we need additional information, we will contact you. If we do not see a suitable match between your qualifications and the position, we will keep your information on file in the event future positions become available that are more suitable to your qualifications.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.