International Space Station Flight Controller

Overview

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!  We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA’s pursuits in deep space exploration. As NASA’s largest engineering solutions provider working together with NASA at centers across the United States.  We have an exciting opportunity for an ISS Flight Controller to join the team with Barrios Technology, a teammate company.

 

Building on more than four decades of experience in providing innovative integration solutions for government and commercial space programs, Barrios offers an extensive range of engineering, software, and related technology integration services in support of the aerospace community. As a woman-owned and operated small business, we are a people-focused company that supports professional development, while working to ensure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

 

Barrios employees actively participate in the growth of the commercial spaceflight industry through our partnerships with companies leading commercial space development, as well as successfully supporting NASA as our primary government customer. Our long history supporting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on the International Space Station, and now Commercial LEO, lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon through our work on Orion, Gateway, and the Space Launch System. 

 

 

Responsibilities

This posting is for two International Space Station (ISS) Flight Controller positions. The applicant will have the opportunity to interview with both teams. An individual in this position will work as either a Communications RF On-Board Networks Utilization Specialist (CRONUS) or Environmental and Thermal Operating Systems (ETHOS) flight controller.The CRONUS Flight Controller serves as a technical expert for the ISS Command and Data Handling and Communications and Tracking Systems. Flight controllers with the CRONUS call sign are responsible for operating the communications and command systems onboard ISS from a flight control console located in the Mission Control Center (MCC) Houston. These individuals are also responsible for training astronauts, cosmonauts, and peers on those systems. Personnel will be expected to complete NASA led flight controller and instructor certifications for this area of expertise.The Environmental and Thermal Operating Systems (ETHOS) flight controller and instructors manage the execution and training for crew on life support systems that include monitoring the oxygen, nitrogen, ventilation, CO2 scrubbing, total and partial pressure sensors, trace contaminant removal, vacuum resources for payloads, water recovery and recycling, and urine processing systems. Within the internal thermal control systems ETHOS operates the low and moderate temperature water loops located in the US Lab, Node 2, and Node 3 modules, and manages the shell heaters located on every US module. Consumables tracking, trending, and planning is also a major and dynamic function that ETHOS deals with on a daily basis. Troubleshooting system failures and assisting in planning crew repair activities is fairly common within the ETHOS console due to the high number of unique and critical systems that are required for crew health and ISS habitability. ETHOS flight controllers and instructors have the significant and critical role of leading the flight control teams and crew in responding to vehicle emergencies including fire, rapid depressurization and a toxic atmosphere. Initial training and duties will be as an entry-level flight controller often working evening, night and weekend shifts during non-complex operations. After a period of time (usually 1 to 2 years) as an MPSR, the employee will be trained as a FCR and/or as an Instructor. As a FCR, the individual will work primarily day shifts, complex operations, and on-call during other shifts. As an Instructor the individual will support shifts as needed, develop training materials, and instruct astronauts and flight controllers. It is anticipated that personnel will eventually achieve all 3 certifications (MPSR, FCR and Instructor).Specific flight controller duties include maintaining a safe environment for astronauts onboard ISS; monitoring of real-time status and performance of the ISS systems; controlling ISS system operations from mission control; reporting status and anomalies to mission managers; determ