Scientist, Heliophysics (Plasma Charging)

Position Summary: 

USRA and the Science and Technology Institute are seeking a full-time Scientist, Heliophysics, to work in our Huntsville Al office. USRA supports The NASA Space Environments Team which is responsible for defining the space environment focusing primarily on environments relevant to crewed spacecraft design, operations, and risk mitigation. The team also performs analyses using design environments to support spacecraft design studies, evaluates new models and research to maintain knowledge of state-of-the-art in the space environments discipline, and engages in model development and improvement activities. NASA and USRA work collaboratively to meet these goals and responsibilities.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Provide technical support to EV44/Natural Environments Branch in defining and monitoring the plasma environments relevant to human and robotic space exploration. 
• Maintain knowledge of state-of-the-art and evaluate plasma and spacecraft charging research models and engineering tools for use in crewed spacecraft design and development activities. 
• Evaluate space plasma environments and their effects on crewed spacecraft systems. 
• Perform spacecraft charging analyses for in-space and lunar surface crewed assets using Nascap-2k, Ansys Charge Plus, and NUMIT2.0, including particle-in-cell simulations.
• Document results of evaluations and analysis in the form of internal reports, journal publications, and program technical documents, and present results to internal and external customers.
• Support program specific space environments discipline leads by attending program spacecraft design discussions, presenting to program-level control boards and meetings, and providing expert consultation to design partners related to plasma interactions with spacecraft surfaces and spacecraft charging analysis. Programs span all near-Earth regions of space, including Low Earth Orbit, Lunar Orbit and Surface, Mars Orbit and Surface, and near-Earth Interplanetary space. 
• Support program specific space environments discipline leads by serving as plasma environment subject matter expert for program milestone and interim document reviews and providing expert evaluation of partner plasma environment definitions, application of environments in design analyses, and detailed review of analyses and accuracy of results. This includes support developing program concerns and risks and supporting or leading activities toward closure.
• Support program specific space environments discipline leads as a general space environments discipline representative in program and design partner meetings and provide notes to the discipline team for cognizance and discussion.
• Attend and present work at relevant conferences and technical meetings, approximately four expected per year. Examples of conferences include the Applied Space Environments Conference, Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference, and Space Weather Workshop.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of plasma physics
• Knowledge of spacecraft charging highly preferred.
• Experience with programs such as with Python, C++, or particle-in-cell simulations.
• Demonstrate strong technical writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to work on diverse, cross-discipline teams with people of different technical backgrounds.
• Ability to multi-task and transition between quick turnaround assignments.
• Demonstrate the capability to plan and perform analyses independently and within a team.

Education:  Ph.D. in physics, space science, engineering, astrophysics, or similar field from an accredited institution. Postdoc experience is a plus.

Remote Working: This position is not available for remote work. Candidate is required to follow MSFC/EV44 in office work policy which currently requires employees to be in the office a minimum of Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday each week. Normal workdays are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Regular attendance is a necessity and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

US Citizenship: Proof of US Citizenship is required

Travel:  The potential exists to travel to other US government facilities and to conferences.

 

This position is contingent upon NASA funding.