Why this role exists
We are building a $65M firm-fixed-price, design-build facility for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center, and we need one person who owns it from preconstruction through turnover in 2028. You run the P&L, the schedule, and the NASA relationship. Success means finishing on time, at or above budgeted margin, with zero recordable incidents and CPARS ratings strong enough to help us win the next federal award.
What success looks like
- The margin holds. You deliver at or under the $65M firm fixed price, with gross margin at or above the award budget. You forecast margin monthly, and no overrun ever reaches leadership or NASA as a surprise.
- Construction starts on time. You lead design coordination with CDFL through preconstruction so the design is buildable, on budget, and approved in time to mobilize by the ± March 2027 target.
- The schedule is real. Your CPM update goes out on time every month, no milestone slips without an approved change, and the facility reaches substantial completion by September 2028.
- Nobody gets hurt. The jobsite runs at zero recordable incidents from Day 1. You own safety alongside the superintendent, with active hazard identification and full compliance with federal and MSFC site requirements.
- NASA rates us Very Good or Exceptional. Every evaluated category, on every interim and final CPARS evaluation.
- Nothing ages on the log. Every submittal, RFI, and pay application is processed within contract turnaround, with zero late items.
- A clean finish. The facility is fully commissioned and earns LEED or Green Globes certification, with closeout documentation accepted by NASA.
- A team of A players. By month 3 you have built a project team across project engineers, superintendent, and QC, with clear accountability for each seat. You address performance problems within 30 days of spotting them.
Who thrives here
You know your float and your cost-to-complete without asking a scheduler or an accountant. You have told an owner bad news early, and you have never shaded a schedule or cost report to look better. You hold subcontractors, designers, and your own team to their commitments, and you deal with problems directly instead of working around them. You see design, cost, and schedule risk weeks out and move on recovery before anyone asks. You run meetings that end on time with decisions made and owners named. You finish what you start, and you want your name on this job from preconstruction to closeout.
Requirements (non-negotiable)
- Four-year degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, Building Construction, or Building Science. This is a NASA contract requirement, and experience cannot substitute for it.
- 5+ years as a titled Project Manager on building projects of $50M or more with a general contractor. Assistant PM or project engineer time on large jobs does not count toward this.
- 5+ additional years in project leadership roles (PM, superintendent, QC manager, project engineer, or construction manager) on large commercial, institutional, or federal work.
- Demonstrated experience with hazard identification and safety compliance.
- At least one LEED or Green Globes project delivered.
- Personal ownership of CPM schedules and project budgets, and proficiency with Autodesk Construction Cloud or similar software.
- U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident able to pass the background investigation for MSFC badging.
- Based in the Huntsville area, or willing to relocate, for full-time on-site work.
Preferred
- Lead PM on one or two federal projects over $100M. That means you personally ran the contract's daily deliverables and administration, not that you supported or were involved in them.
- Design-build experience with a federal owner such as NASA, USACE, NAVFAC, or GSA.
What this role is NOT
- Not a support role. You are the lead PM, accountable for the P&L, the schedule, and the client relationship. If you have been "involved in" large jobs but never had your name on the PM line, this isn't the fit.
- Not remote or hybrid. You will be in the job trailer at MSFC every day.
- Not a stepping stone. We need someone committed through closeout in September 2028, not someone planning to move on mid-project.
- Not a hand-off on safety. If you see safety as the superintendent's job, this role will be a struggle.
- Not for subcontractor-side, heavy civil, or owner's-rep backgrounds without general contractor building experience.
Compensation & benefits
- $125,000–$144,500 base
- Company truck
- Health Benefits
- 401k
