Senior Project Engineer- Propulsion

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

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.  

Our Propulsion team provides expert technical assistance for spacecraft propulsion systems used on a broad range of space vehicles, from technology development through on-orbit operations.  As the Senior Project Engineer- Propulsion Engineering, you will collaborate with our NASA customer and industry contractors to ensure the success of high-priority space missions with challenging propulsion requirements. Your work will potentially involve propulsion system development, manufacture, testing, and operations for multiple programs.  You must be willing to learn a broad range of new technologies and systems, and confidently advise customers in making critical decisions.   

The ideal candidate will be hired into VSD/Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) and will primarily support the Civil Systems Group (CSG) Program Office to work with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate’s Propulsion and Power Systems Division.    

Work Model 

This is a full-time, 100% onsite position at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX 

What You’ll Be Doing  

You will be supporting the development of advanced spacecraft propulsion systems for national space missions, using new technologies to allow more responsive operations: 

• Participate in the overall design, development, test and evaluation of propulsion systems, propellant tanking and delivery subsystems 

• Develop program requirements, risks, and hazards; evaluate inspection, analysis, and test products to support verification or risk/hazard reduction 

• Participate in and/or lead technical interchange meetings, hardware reviews, flight data reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews; plan, coordinate, manage, evaluate, and report upon analyses, studies, and tests of components and systems 

• Resolve unique or novel problems, conditions, and issues as related to the assigned propulsion systems development 

• Perform technical evaluation of chemical propulsion systems used for spacecraft programs 

• Review contractor products and NASA defined requirements to verify requirement compliance and general propulsion system efficiency and effectivity 

• Provide real-time support during test, launch, and operations of spacecraft propulsion systems 

• Function as propulsion system liaison for flight Anomaly Resolution and In-Flight Investigation review