Parachute Systems Engineer full_time NEW

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 a Parachute Systems 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 a Parachute 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

• Serve as a highly proactive technical specialist, understanding issues and formulating options/recommendations, while working closely for the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division

• Support the assessment of parachutes and parachute systems flight dynamics model correlation to flight test data

• Support parachute development including requirements verification, drop test participation and independent post-test analysis, pre-flight packaging verification in plant, and reentry and parachute deployment modeling and post deployment assessment

• Support the overall development and coordinating reach back into Aerospace subject matter experts for flight dynamic predictive models for parachutes

• Develop special reports/discussions of findings, issues, conclusions, recommendations, and risk assessments

• Coordinate requirements, technical objectives, interfaces, standards, issues and findings with subject matter experts and stakeholders

• Perform evaluation of operational needs and verification of mission plans

• Serve as a highly proactive technical specialist while working closely across various engineering disciplines, flight operations, crew office, commercial providers and program teams, working groups and panels to ensure visiting vehicle success

• Lead forums and venues to formulate and prepare technical findings and recommendations

• Perform other duties for the customer as required

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

• 5 or more years of increasingly responsible and related engineering/scientific experience

• Experience in design, deployment, operation, and post utilization inspection of spacecraft parachute systems

• Experience in human space flight preparation for flight technical processes

• Test experience including execution of test requirements, verification and validation processes, procedure, planning, preparing for Test Readiness Reviews, logistical coordination pre and at test site, and test execution for flight hardware and ground systems.

• Experience with the space flight certification processes to ensure performance and safety requirements

• 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

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

How You Can Stand Out  

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

• A Ph.D. in aerospace, aeronautical, or mechanical engineering

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

• Successful track record in designing, testing, and implementing parachute systems

• Proficiency in using advanced computer-aided engineering tools, and other simulation software relevant to our technologies

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences