Aerospace Psychologist

Title:

Aerospace Psychologist

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! 

Around here, we define the future.

We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely.

This position will support the Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) Operations Group at NASA Johnson Space Center and provide expertise for the collection, curation, evaluation, and management of all quantitative and qualitative data generated as part of BHP’s assessment, selection, and training activities.
 

Primary tasks for BHP operations will include analysis and management of data collected during astronaut selection, astronaut candidate training, analog participants screening, as well as contributing to improving selection and training tools and procedures. Tasks will also include preparations for astronaut and other selection activities, such as the preparatory work required to build individual applicant reports, adapt testing protocols, prepare simulations and other selection activities that may be considered for future training and selection cycles. In addition, the incumbent will participate in the coordinating and monitoring of data collection, as well as analyzing data and preparing reports, presentations, and publications. Overall, the incumbent will serve as the principal resource for establishing, collecting, and organizing the evidence from internal and external sources of data to inform, validate, and enhance operational requirements and practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Evaluate astronaut selection methods and metrics to enhance performance-based suitability assessments.
• Assist in developing, refining, and validating selection tools, behavioral simulations, and rating scales for selection and training activities.
• Analyze and adapt non-standardized measures based on internal research and current scientific literature.
• Aggregate and interpret applicant testing results to generate individual reports for BHP evaluations.
• Design and assess countermeasures for behavioral health and performance challenges associated with spaceflight.
• Conduct literature reviews and apply psychological methods to inform operational decisions and spaceflight readiness.
• Assist in developing and evaluating BHP-related activities in astronaut candidate training.
• Develop and deliver training in areas of expertise related to BHP preparation and training.
• Contribute to the preparation of program plans, technical reports, white papers, and other operational or scientific documentation.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including BHP personnel, flight surgeons, mission managers, and Flight Operations personnel, to execute research and operational plans effectively.
• Provide input for weekly and monthly status reports for various NASA stakeholders.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support NASA’s operational and research objectives.
• Responsible for compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan; must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the Company’s safety policies and rules and must be willing to report safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel.
• Responsible for compliance with the Quality Assurance Plan, policies and procedures.
• Responsible for completing all assigned training.

Education/Experience
Required:
• Ph.D. and 3-5 years of experience in Psychology, Brain Science, Applied Psychology or related discipline.
• Expertise in psychometrics and measurement, including developing, validating, and implementing assessment tools, test construction, and measurement processes.
• Human research experience in areas relevant to behavioral health and performance, such as resilience and stress tolerance, emotion regulation, and personality.
• Experience in applied, dynamic, or operational settings, particularly spaceflight operations.
• Experience in selection and training within operational organizations.
• Knowledge of assessment center operations and their legal/ethical requirements.

Desired:
• Prior experience working within a technical, science, or engineering organization.
• Familiarity with integrated multidisciplinary assessment methods, including psychometrics (surveys), behavioral tasks, and wearable/device-based measures.
 

SKILLS/TRAINING
REQUIRED:
• Comprehensive understanding of behavior and performance outcomes necessary for individuals to function effectively in extreme or dynamic operational environments.
• Demonstrated advanced data collection, analysis, and interpretation skills