Human Exploration and Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) Integrated Performance (IP) Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

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.

Within the CSG, the Human Exploration and Space Flight (HESF) Division supports our NASA customer in all aspects of human space flight. We are looking for a Human Exploration and Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) Integrated Performance (IP) Engineer (Project Engineer/Sr. Project Engineer -Systems Engineering). In this role you will support the NASA EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program’s (EHP) System Engineering and Integration (SEI) Integrated Performance (IP) team, in addition to supporting engineering activities for various customers and internal Aerospace initiatives.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in Houston, TX, Huntsville, AL, Washington, DC, or El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines 3-5 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Enable formulation and risk reduction of Surface Human Mobility Systems and develop mobility capabilities with a focus on Artemis, specifically in lunar surface spacesuit development and lunar surface human mobility system disciplines. 
• Coordinate requirements, technical objectives, interfaces, standards, issues and findings with subject matter experts and stakeholders. 
• Maintain awareness up and down the chain (M2M expectations, EHP needs, Project needs) and anticipate and resolve disconnects with stakeholders prior to technical coordination meetings on technical baseline products. 
• Participate in NASA, Artemis and EHP Program Office forums, as well as provider forums for technical discussions where decisions are made related to concepts, mission architecture, testing/training, requirements, and verifications. 
• Perform integrated engineering deep-dive analysis on special topics, HITL test plans/protocols, systems engineering, integration, and test products such as concept definition, trade studies, and verification/validation planning. 
• Support the assessment of engineering design concepts and architectures. 
• Identify Gaps and Risks in provider implementation goals and objectives with regards to Requirement Compliance and Concepts of Operations alignment. 
• Review and provide technical input to formal products such as Joint Agreement Memos (JAM), Data Requirements Deliverables (DRD), lifecycle reviews, and Ground Rules and Assumptions (GRAs). 
• Contribute to the development, updating, and review of Program SEI technical baseline documents using Configuration Management Workflow (CMW) tools and processes for Change Requests (CRs). 
• Serve as a technical specialist/consultant for a broad range of extravehicular activity (EVA), moon/Mars surface operations, and other engineering/research activities. 
• Serve as a highly proactive technical specialist, understanding issues and formulating options/recommendations, while working closely with the program team and across other offices, teams, working groups, and panels. 
• Communicate effectively and be able to summarize and present analysis findings to both Aerospace and NASA Senior Staff 
• Develop periodic status reports and presentations, discussions of findings, issues, conclusions, and risk assessments, and formulate recommendations to senior-level program management. 

Provide integration leadership within EHP SEI Integrated Performance (IP) Team including, but is not limited to:

• Program analysis cycles and development of surface phase integrated analysis products.
• Program Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) and Surface Phase TPMs, tracking closure on capability contributing to closing on Artemis missions.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed 

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Project Engineer Systems Engineering

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or another related STEM discipline
• At least 6 of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment. 
• Demonstrated experience integrating multiple teams and complex systems. 
• Knowledge and understanding of the NASA program life cycle.   
• Ability to effectively utilize oral and written communication to express technical concepts and recommendations to personnel at all technical and managerial levels. 
• Capability to work in a quick-paced, small core team that leads technical discussions across a large technical community and influences teams across the NASA enterprise. 
• Initiative and demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers. 
• Experience working across diverse teams and many different engineering disciplines. 
• Knowledge of space flight certification processes to ensure performance and safety requirements are met. 
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically approx. 10%. 
• This position may require the 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 Senior Project Engineer- Systems Engineering include:

• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment with NASA Programs, preferably Human Space Flight.  
• Superior analytical, planning, problem solving, and decision-making skills  
• Proven expertise and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary setting, manage multiple concurrent tasks, and provide direction on competing priorities  
• Expertise in space flight certification processes to ensure performance and safety requirements are met. 

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in science, engineering, or mathematics, and/or advanced education/training in specialized areas of Vehicle Systems Integration   
• More than 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment with NASA Programs, preferably Human Space Flight.  
• Deep knowledge of NASA systems engineering and lifecycle review processes   

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. 

(Min - Max)

$117,300 - $226,900

Pay Basis: Annual

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.