Aerodynamics 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 and will primarily support the Civil Systems Group (CSG) Program Office, who supports our NASA customer in all aspects of human space flight. In this role as an Aerodynamics Engineer (Project Engineer/Sr. Project Engineer – Engineering Integration/Technical Project Management), you will support the NASA Johnson Space Center Engineering Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division (AFMD) as an aerodynamics expert supporting human exploration programs. 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, subject to continued customer demand. 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  

• Review or develop CFD models of various NASA Program spacecraft, including prepare, mesh, run, and post process CFD models

• Support and review the contractor developed engineering models, simulations and wind-tunnel testing in order to provide EG with confidence on the prediction flight operation ahead of flight validation

• Works closely with the GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) team in order to enable them to safely develop flight controls and mission plans

• Review post-flight data and compare to pre-flight estimates.  Support real time launch and on orbit traverses if requested

• Interface with responsible engineers, providing them inputs to their designs and ensuring they have a clear understanding of the physical phenomena they are dealing with

• Be the liaison to Aerospace subject matter experts in aerodynamic design, analysis, and modeling to help the NASA Programs to resolve complex issues or problem resolutions

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements for the Project Engineer- Engineering Integration/Technical Project Management: 

• Master’s degree in aerospace, aeronautical or mechanical engineering is required

• 5 or more years of experience with aerodynamic and aerothermal analysis is required

• Experience using existing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools

• Experience in experimental testing

• Experience in data processing and analysis in MATLAB or Python

• Experience with thermal protection systems

• Strong background in external, compressible fluid dynamics

• Experience with NASA flight operations and procedures

• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required) 

• 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 Senior Project Engineer- Engineering Integration/Technical Project Management include: 

• At least 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