What are the responsibilities and job description for the Preliminary Design Review Lead/Czar position at Bay Systems Consulting Inc.?
Overview
Bay Systems Consulting, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is seeking an experienced preliminary design review (PDR) lead to oversee and coordinate the PDR campaign for the Mars Ascent Vehicle Integrated System (MAVIS) program. This role is critical in ensuring that all subsystem reviews, design maturity assessments, and technical evaluations align with NASA, DoD, and mission assurance standards.
As the PDR lead, you will develop and manage the overall PDR schedule, facilitate technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and ensure all deliverables meet the rigorous standards of NASA systems engineering guidelines. Your leadership will directly impact the mission success of one of NASA’s most ambitious deep-space endeavors—the return of Martian samples to Earth.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the MAVIS PDR campaign schedule, ensuring alignment with program objectives
- Define and enforce PDR entry/exit criteria in compliance with NASA-STD-7009, NPR 7123.1, and mission assurance requirements
- Coordinate and facilitate PDR technical interchange meetings (TIMs), peer reviews, and formal design board presentations
- Ensure timely development, submission, and review of PDR artifacts, including design reports, trade studies, risk assessments, and verification plans
- Establish and track the Design Maturity Index (DMI) to assess subsystem readiness for PDR
- Serve as the primary liaison between subsystem leads, NASA review boards, and MAVIS leadership to ensure alignment on review expectations
Qualifications
- Must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, or related field from an accredited college is required
- 10 years of professional experience in aerospace system design, systems engineering, or technical program management
- Proven experience leading or coordinating PDR/CDR or major technical reviews for NASA, DoD, or aerospace programs
- Strong understanding of NASA systems engineering standards, spaceflight development processes, and technical review criteria
- Experience establishing and monitoring a technical performance metric (TPM) such as Design Maturity Index (DMI) to track design review readiness
- Collaboration and communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage multidisciplinary teams, coordinate cross-functional reviews, and communicate effectively with NASA and industry stakeholders
Preferred Requirements
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Master's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical, engineering, systems engineering, or a related field from an accredited college
- Previous experience supporting Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), Mars Sample Return (MSR), or Artemis programsKnowledge of launch vehicle development, propulsion, avionics, or space systems integration
- Experience managing high-visibility technical reviews with NASA HQ or major aerospace contractors
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat, with the ability to effectively utilize these tools for documentation, communication, and collaboration
