Orion Spacecraft Test Operations Lead

Job Description and Responsibilities

The Orion Production Operations Office (OPO) provides program oversight/insight for the production (i.e., assembly, integration, test execution (AI&P), acceptance and delivery of the Orion integrated spacecraft for Artemis missions.  This position is a lead test engineer responsible for planning and executing module and integrated level spacecraft testing to assure Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR).

Provides strategic and technical operations oversight/insight and leadership to the integrated Orion test team and supports programmatic communications between NASA and the Orion prime contractor including cross-program (SLS and EGS) as required.

• Leads and represents NASA on Orion integrated test team to assure work of assigned team is planned, coordinated, and executed to completion and test requirements satisfaction.
• As NASA team leader, provides technical operations test expertise and insight to test team for all planned test operations to include test anomalies recovery and unplanned test impacts.
• Applies tactical and strategic techniques and lessons learned to support future test campaigns.
• Keeps management informed of work progress, and progress in meeting milestones and deadlines, and problems encountered.
• Represents and speaks on behalf of team with clear communication and understanding of performance to plan, risks and other technical, schedule and budgetary impacts.
• Identifies & negotiates resources for team with management.
• Supports Program panels/boards related to program test decisions.
• Remains cognizant of new and emerging test opportunities, tools, capabilities, and strategies
• Develops and manages “what if” assessment/trade study schedules to study, analyze and evaluate schedule projections and forecast.

Ensures program’s strategic and mission plans are communicated and integrated into team’s goals and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of test development, planning and execution of manned space flight hardware using current and state of the art techniques to perform modular and integrated spacecraft verification and acceptance testing.   Experienced in test team leadership and integration to lead a large test team located at various sites (i.e., KSC/JSC/Denver) throughout the entire spacecraft test campaign and flow to successfully accept and deliver a fully tested, proven, and verified integrated spacecraft to NASA.  Skilled in engineering concepts, practices, and principles to resolve critical technical issues and analyze complex spacecraft scenarios involving complex multi-systems spanning multiple engineering disciplines using an integrated system approach.

Education and Experience

Bachelor of Science in engineering disciplines and 10 years relevant experience.

ARES offers a competitive compensation and benefit package. Full time employees may participate in:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA/FSA Accounts
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• ESOP 
• Paid Time Off & Holidays

ARES is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer and complies with E-Verify.

ARES shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a).  These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.