Human Exploration Flight Control Engineer

Job Summary   

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The ideal candidate will be hired into VSD/Engineering and Technology Group (ETG). You will primarily support the Civil Systems Group (CSG) Program Office to work with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate’s Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division. CSG supports our NASA customer in all aspects of human space flight.  

We are looking for a Human Exploration Flight Control Engineer (Project Engineer/ Senior Project Engineer- GNC Engineering). In this role you will support the NASA Johnson Space Center Engineering Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division (AFMD) as a flight control expert. The AFMD provides technical leadership in the engineering disciplines of aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics; guidance, navigation, and control flight performance; mission design; and autonomous systems. The division provides engineering design, development, testing, and evaluation for all phases of space flight (ascent, entry, orbit, and interplanetary) and for all types of human spacecraft.   

Work Model 

This is a full-time position based at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX. This position will require a minimum of (3-4) days in-office per week, with hybrid options based on business needs and customer deadlines.  

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Support the overall flight control (automation) team on the NASA project  

• Develop requirements and justifications for the GNC Systems  

• Ensure dynamic control models are being developed by NASA standards and show execution of requirements  

• Assist in assessment of flight controller elements  

• Assess the overall vehicle performance model predication and stability margins for the different mission phases  

• Provide feedback on Monte Carlo trajectory analyses using independent 6 degrees-of-freedom simulations 

• Support overall GNC system as well, representing flight control interests  

• Participate in milestone review during the development phases, assuring compliance of the proposed flight control approach via GNC to requirements 

• Evaluate the integration of the Flight GNC to the propulsion, control elements, sensors and software to ensure flight control overall architecture is being achieved in the integrated level design  

• Support review of GNC Flight software peer reviews for flight operations  

• Support certification of GN&C system requirements compliance through review of analysis and test reports, including assessment of navigation sensor performance, trajectory dispersions, and other GN&C parameters 

• Certify fault tolerance safety requirements compliance through review of GN&C-related hazard reports and associated verification evidence, including communicating uncovered issues to a Safety Review Panel

• Identify and recommend solutions to GN&C flight performance related issues

• Provide engineering inputs to operational products, such as flight rules and on-orbit demonstration plans  

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements for the Human Exploration Flight Control Engineer (Project Engineer - GNC Engineering)

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on GN&C, flight controls, and orbital mechanics is required 

• A minimum of (6) years of experience experience with NASA or on NASA commercial systems is required is required

• Experience with spacecraft rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture/docking

• Familiarity with spacecraft docking systems

• Working knowledge of NASA, JSC, and ISS standard practices and requirements, including safety and fault tolerance 

• Experience with NASA flight operations and procedures 

• Familiarity with NASA/JSC documentation databases and SharePoint sites

• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner    

• Proven expertise in managing multiple concurrent tasks and provide direction on competing priorities   

• Ability to work within a diverse team environment and many engineering disciplines, where the team is distributed across multiple NASA and Aerospace Corporation organizations, projects, and programs  

• Willing to travel occasionally to work location (domestically) approx. (4-6 times) per year  

• 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.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Human Exploration Flight Control Engineer (Senior Project Engineer - GNC Engineering) include:  

• A minimum of (10) years experience with NASA or on NASA commercial systems is required

• Excellent teaming and leadership skills with an ability to working across diverse teams and multi-task across various issues/disciplines simultaneously 

• Proven expertise in managing multiple concurrent tasks and provide direction on competing priorities 

How You Can Stand Out  

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

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or closely related field is strongly preferred

• Expertise in building on NASA Human Spaceflight topics and safety matters  

• Successful track record in designing, testing, and implementing EDL systems for interplanetary or lunar missions