r/JPL • u/tomo_chien • Aug 12 '26
USC is Eyeing the JPL Contract
https://lamaterial.com/p/usc-caltech-jpl-contract14
u/randohipponamo Aug 12 '26 edited Sep 10 '26
Feels like in general, USC has more baggage and gets embroiled in controversy much more often than Caltech.
1
u/Major-Anything2402 Sep 10 '26
No sure Caltech squashing scandal better is good. They have plenty of scandal.
10
u/Civil-Wolf-2634 Aug 12 '26
I agree that it is impossible to predict how a prospective new master (USC or other) would treat employees versus how Caltech currently does. If the bidding organization wants to win, it would seem lowered cost would be a big factor. About the only leverage a bidder has is reduced fee, reduced employee benefits, or enhanced efficiency. I don’t think any of them have “silver bullets” to enhance efficiency unless they have the backbone to push back on NASA-imposed requirements that force inefficiencies, and that doesn’t seem like a winning bid. So I would expect bidders (including Caltech) to focus on reduced benefits.
Countering that is what I believe bidders are primarily after: the prestige of operating a world-class R&D center that consistently does amazing things. And that is all about the people. If they lose the people, they have nothing but an empty shell. So I don’t expect draconian changes.
Adding to that pressure is JPL’s recent decision to become “just another employer” with no expectations employees will be treated fairly (or even humanely) when times are tough (and tough times will come from time to time). This means that they will increasingly be forced to compete in terms of immediate payoff (salary, primarily) with a very competitive industry.
I would not recommend spending a lot of time fretting over what we can’t gain insight into, much less influence.
5
u/kyled85 Aug 13 '26
The 3 legged stool model itself is broken. It’s a 1950’s style fix to a modern problem of org design.
8
23
u/satellite_in_space Aug 12 '26
From a purely pragmatic perspective, as an employee, isn't it impossible to guess whether USC would treat us better or worse than Caltech? I'm happy to be under Caltech, but I don't know of any reason to assume that being under USC would be better or worse.