Cost Account Manager

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.

Optics and Optical Metrology

Optics and Optical Metrology Manager

The Optics and Optical Metrology Element is seeking a Cost Account Manager (CAM) to lead the contract management activities for optical subsystems of the GMT telescope.  The Cost Account Manager (CAM) will lead a small team(s) to manage suppliers cost, schedule and technical performance. The CAM must be experienced in working with multidisciplinary teams that have successfully delivered complex, high-precision opto-mechanical systems.

This position will work closely with GMTO engineers, suppliers, partners, and the GMTO Procurement group. In addition, the CAM will be responsible for all aspects of the contract management team and the subcontractor including: writing and reviewing statements of work, technical requirements, interface control documents, proposal evaluations and other procurement related documentation as well as leading the design and production reviews of the contractor utilizing independent review teams and the GMTO technical staff.

The Cost Account Manager will work with GMT procurement and the contractors to negotiate contract cost, schedule and technical aspects of the contract, and will be responsible for managing contract performance, schedule, milestones, and review and approve supplier deliverables. The CAM will be supported by the system engineer and design engineers for technical issues. In addition, the CAM will generate presentations and reports for project meetings, reviews, and conferences.

Experience in project management, leading a technical team, subcontractor management, schedule and cost analysis and coordinating tasks amongst engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, optical or physics are required in this position. EVMS experience as well as experience with optical fabrication of large optics are highly desirable.

This position will require travel to various contractors and GMTO member locations.

• Manage the design and fabrication and testing of OOM Subsystems. This includes preparation of statements of work, requirements documents, supporting the proposal evaluation and contracting processes.
• Manage the performance aspects of the GMTO team and contractor team to ensure effective communication and that the products meet all requirements with-in the cost and schedule of the contract.
• Ensure contractors comply with GMT quality assurance and safety requirements.
• Write reports and prepare and deliver presentations
• Utilize EVMS processes to manage and report the cost and schedule status of the GMTO contract team and the supplier’s performance.

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline
• At least 10 years of experience in program and contract management for the fabrication of large mechanical and opto-mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated experience in the successful contract management and delivery of large, complex optical or opto-mechanical systems for scientific or defense applications.
• Demonstrated high level of written and oral communication skills.
• A cooperative team player who strives to make the team(s) successful.
• Ability to coordinate and negotiate requirements and interfaces with other project subsystems
• Ability to coordinate safety and quality assurance requirements
• Knowledge of EVMS and schedule management
• Flexibility to work outside of core business hours and travel to GMTO member locations, vendor premises and the GMT site in Chile when necessary.

• MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline
• 15+ years of experience with the manufacturing and fabrication of precision electro-optic systems
• MBA or equivalent business degree or certification in program management
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills in large projects and/or international project collaborations.
• Knowledge of safety and quality assurance requirements for precision opto-mechanical systems
• Experience in optical fabrication for large optics

• 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.

$125,000- $155,000

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.