Strategy and Architecture Office 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.

We are looking for a Strategy and Architecture Office (Senior Project Engineer- Systems Test Engineering). This position will support the NASA Strategy and Architecture Office (SAO) Lunar Architecture Team (LAT) – part of the Artemis portfolio at the NASA Johnson Space Center. As part of this team, you will serve as an engineering and human-in-the-loop (HITL) test lead focusing on Moon-to-Mars (M2M) lunar architecture element design and trades.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, offering a 100% onsite work model, option for hybrid that combines 3-4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide leadership, strategic and detailed planning, and execution of SAO’s Artemis Basic Architecture Surface Experience (BASE) Camp, which will provide an introductory lunar surface system design and integration bootcamp for new Artemis architecture entrants, including:
  • Johnson Space Center (JSC)-based human-in-the-loop (HITL) testing involving classroom, Virtual Reality (VR) / Lunar Lighting and Mobility Analysis (LLAMA) sim, Rock Yard, and
  • Field operations near Flagstaff, AZ at the Black Point Lava Flow, San Francisco Volcanic Fields, Cinder Lake, and/or Barringer/Meteor Crater areas
• Incorporate and lead realistic mission operations conops, capabilities, and cadence (e.g., communications, etc.)
• Provide iterative architecture concept design and analysis support to the Lunar Architecture Team (LAT) to fulfill NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) needs related to the Artemis Program
• Expand Aerospace’s customer base within NASA, the DoD, and commercial spaceflight communities through systems engineering and integration tasks (e.g., conops and requirements development, verification & validation) and risk reduction activities through HITL testing

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Senior Project Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or another related STEM discipline
• At least 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in systems engineering and integration, NASA Flight Operations, and HITL spaceflight analog testing
• Experience supporting SAO Lunar Architecture Team (LAT) and Moon-to-Mars (M2M) Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) team strategic analysis cycles (SAC)
• Experience leading terrestrial field analog test missions in the Flagstaff area
• Ability to design, fabricate, assemble, and ship lunar architecture element mockups to the field
• Knowledge of the following areas and the respective points of contact to coordinate with regarding BASE content: surface architecture design, conops, Ground Rules and Assumptions (GRAs), environmental conditions, terrain challenges, operational and science implications, and considerations for logistics, human systems and habitation integration
• Real-time human spaceflight operations experience (e.g., ISS flight operations experience)
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner to be presented to personnel at all technical and managerial levels
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer sites domestically approx. 10%, as required
• 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.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, or another related STEM discipline
• Working experience with space suits, surface mobility (rovers), and habitation concepts and technology
• Working experience in the NASA program life cycle, analysis cycles, and system engineering processes
• NASA HITL test leadership, including planning, leading, and executing multidisciplinary field tests
• Proven ability to interact effectively with government and contractor personnel
• Experience with International Partner and/or Commercial vendor integration and coordination

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.