Reports to: Chief Medical Officer
This position will support the Virgin Galactic Medical team at Spaceport America. The position will be part of a team that works together to ensure Virgin Galactic spaceflight program adequately establishes, incorporates and implements human health standards and requirements into vehicle design and build. The position will also assist the medical team with spaceflight system environmental and biomedical data monitoring and analysis. The Biomedical Engineer will obtain technical knowledge and engage Subject Medical Experts across human health topics such as crew and space flight participant health, cabin environmental factors and limitations, physiology for the aviation and spaceflight environment, anthropometry, strength and biomechanics, safety, habitability and architecture, and biomedical devices. The position will participate in designated meetings and working groups as a mechanism for monitoring the incorporation of human health consideration in vehicle design. The Biomedical Engineer will monitor how well health and medical requirements are met, ensure that issues of unmet or insufficiently met requirements are documented, communicate the status of these issues to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and prepare materials for communicating awareness or escalating issues as needed. The position will interface with engineering, design, and flight operations stakeholders, Virgin Galactic management, as well as with vehicle program personnel. Lessons learned will be documented and leveraged to improve human health and performance standards and strategic processes.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
•Serve as Biomedical Engineer
•Participate in designated meetings as the medical and human health representative. This includes proactively screening agendas in order to engage appropriate representatives and/or SMEs as needed, taking notes during meetings, and communicating relevant information to the engineer and design teams
•Coordinate with Medical Team, VG Operations Team, and technical Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
•Coordinate with VG Space Flight System Program Requirement Owners and engineering teams
•Compare industry standard requirements with VG medical standards and work to translate and update applicable standards and requirements Provide insight to program compliance with VG medical and human health standards as well as inform VG medical team decisions
•Coordinate and participate in Space Flight System Program document and design reviews, develop corresponding summary assessments, and follow up on resulting actions
•Review requirements validation documentation from the program and develop requirements mapping from human health standards to Program documents and corresponding gap analysis
•Review and assess integrated test and analysis activities; formulate, summarize, and represent a medical and human health position based on subject matter expertise for Program reviews
•Assist in selection and management of worn biomedical device hardware and software
•Assist in data gathering and analysis from biomedical devices, cabin environment, radiation, noise, vibration, and other human health data as required
•Develop position papers, presentations, and/or requirements interpretations for medical and human health issues
•Participate in medical and operations team meetings, Virgin Galactic Spaceflight Program meetings, and internal team meetings; develop and deliver presentations as necessary
Education and Experience
•REQUIRED: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, biomedical engineering, industrial engineering, biomedical science, or closely related field and 5 years’ experience (or MS and 3 years’ experience).
•REQUIRED: Demonstrated experience in human systems integration and/or in collaborating with multi-disciplined teams. Experience with human systems requirements/verification in human spaceflight vehicle design as well as experience in spaceflight operations.
Skills and Training
•REQUIRED: The candidate shall have demonstrated the ability to work independently and shall possess strong verbal and written communication skills including delivering presentations and writing reports. Verbal skills also include the capability to speak up in Program meetings. The candidate shall also have the capability to listen to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and to understand enough to represent their expertise, but not to serve as the expert to the exclusion of the SME. Ability to work in Microsoft Office’s suite of tools, especially Excel, is required.
•REQUIRED: Familiarity with industry standards (e.g., NASA-STD-3001) and human space flight. Candidate should have the ability to effectively interact with customers at all levels.
Physical and/or Additional Requirements
•Must be able to work all shifts and available for overtime as well as weekends when needed
•Must be able to stand for extended periods – 8 hours minimum
•Must be able to stoop, bend, crawl, maneuver and work in tight spaces
•Must be physically able to fly in a high G environment unassisted
•Physically able to handle items weighing up to 40lbs (unassisted)
The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $132,100.00–$201,550.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits
Who We Are
Virgin Galactic is transforming humanity’s relationship with space. By making it more open and accessible, we are connecting the world to the love, wonder and awe inspired by space travel, helping to create new opportunities for the benefit of life on Earth. Whether it’s supporting cutting-edge research missions for scientists and students, or offering life-changing experiences for the adventurers among us, Virgin Galactic is THE spaceline for Earth. Such an audacious vision requires a team as driven as they are curious – one capable of redefining the boundaries of what’s possible.
Export Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here.
EEO Statement
Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.
