Senior Propulsion Engineer

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.

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors. 

Our team provides expert technical assistance for spacecraft propulsion systems used on a broad range of space vehicles, from technology development through on-orbit operations.  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. 

This position will support NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate’s Propulsion and Power Systems Division in a subsystem engineer capacity across various Human Spaceflight Programs.

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

What You’ll Be Doing

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 exploration program the propulsion systems and propellant tanking and delivery subsystems
• Develop program requirements, risks, and hazards and evaluate inspection, analysis, and test products to support verification or risk/hazard reduction
• Participate in support and/or lead roles in technical interchange meetings, hardware reviews, flight data reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs), Critical Design 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 exploration program 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 liaison for flight Anomaly Resolution review and In-Flight Investigation review, capable of solving propulsion questions with low levels of information
• Maintain awareness of NASA propulsion activities by being an active participant in technical, safety, and integration working groups and meetings
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate results and recommendations to Aerospace program offices and NASA
• Develop technical and progress reports covering assigned tasks which are made available to other technical groups and agencies

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program in a STEM discipline.
• At least 10 years of professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or project management environment.
• Experience with in-space spacecraft chemical-propulsion systems and propellant tank / delivery subsystems
• Unique experience in one of the following is highly desired:
  • Experience with design, development, qualification, and acceptance requirements for pressure fed in space bi-prop NTO/MMH engines.
  • Experience in structural analysis capable of verifying compliance with requirements for stress fact