Commercial LEO Destinations Program (CLDP) Senior Project Engineer

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

Serving as the Senior Project Engineer to NASA Commercial Development programs will offer you the ability to provide a wide range of engineering and systems engineering, integration services and sustaining engineering support across various LEO platforms and various Commercial LEO Chief Engineer Teams.   Having a strong background in human rating matters and coaching teams on risks and recommendations will be a key role and attribute for this position.

Work Model

• This is a full-time position based in Houston, TX at Johnson Space Center, offering a 100% onsite work model requiring 5 regular onsite workdays starting at 8am CDT with limited remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support Commercial LEO Chief Engineer’s various teams which span multiple commercial initiatives including Private Astronaut Missions, ISS Commercial Element, Commercial LEO Destinations 
• Leads discussions among all involved stakeholders (not just engineering systems-includes Human Health & Performance [HH&P], Flight Operations Directorate [FOD], Safety & Mission Assurance [S&MA], International Space Station Program [ISSP], Commercial Crew Program [CCP], and EVA & Human Surface Mobility Program [EHP]).  
• Supports the resolution of technical issues including briefing engineering and program boards.
• Integrates and technically adjudicates data (analysis, hardware configuration, testing results (qual, acceptance, demo, proto) and functionality for applicable flight phases to develop an integrated risk position.  
• Assesses technical designs and formulates an integrated technical recommendation (with options for risk reduction) to the CLDP SM’s, CE’s, System Office Manager and Program Manager. 
• Presents status, results, decisions and positions to engineering boards and/or PCB.  
• Attends partner milestone and design reviews as a representative of NASA Chief Engineer Office (CEO). 
• Other duties as assigned by NASA’s Engineering Directorate’s Chief Engineers Office 

What You Need to be Successful - [Senior Project Engineer]

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or other applicable STEM areas

• At least 12 years’ experience working across government programs, both developmental and operational programs/projects
• Experience working NASA human space flight engineering developmental programs/projects
• Increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Independent and self-motivated; proactive ability to learn on the job and serve as the primary interface to the customer
• Ability to work within a team environment, where the team is distributed across multiple NASA Organizations, Projects and Programs and take direction from customers
• Ability to identify and communicate concerns to leadership and peers in a diplomatic manner
• Willing to travel both domestically and internationally approx. 4 trips annually (estimate)
• This position may require ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, or other applicable STEM areas
• More than 12 years’ experience working across government programs, both developmental and operational 
• 10+ years’ experience within human space exploration discipline or with NASA/NASA contractor
• Experience working NASA JSC engineering organization  
• Understanding of human exploration risks and topics
• Experience working commercial human spaceflight

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.