Acoustic Engineer (NASA HHPC)

Leidos Inc; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 69,550 - 125,725; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Inc. at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston seeks a Space Environment Acoustics Engineer to advance acoustic environments for spacecraft and habitats.

You will collaborate with hardware teams to evaluate noise emissions, implement mitigation, and verify compliance through analysis and testing. Responsibilities include planning tests, calibrating instrumentation, evaluating material noise performance, and supporting real-time measurements during missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in acoustics, engineering, or related field with 5+ years of experience; or a master's with 3+ years.
• Strong leadership and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present complex acoustic concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks independently after training, and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable to varying work expectations.

Responsibilities

• Perform acoustic testing of spaceflight hardware to verify compliance with acoustic requirements and document tests.
• Evaluate acoustic compliance during requirements, design, and safety reviews; recommend noise control solutions.
• Install, calibrate, and operate audio demonstration systems to communicate acoustic performance.
• Support real-time acoustic measurements during missions, including planning, data collection, and reporting.
• Develop procedures and train crews on acoustic monitoring equipment and hearing protection devices.

Skills

Leadership

Attention to detail

Technical communication

Independent work

Collaborative teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in acoustics/engineering

Master's degree in acoustics/engineering

Tools

Bruel & Kjær PULSE LabShop

BK Connect

MATLAB

Excel

VA One

Wave6

Head and Torso Simulator (HATS)

Job description

Description

On the Human Health and Performance Contract, we are at the forefront of safeguarding astronaut health, optimizing human performance, and advancing technologies that enable human space exploration. We are seeking a Space Environment Acoustics Engineer to join the Acoustics Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas.

The Acoustics Office ensures spacecraft and habitat acoustic environments are safe, healthy, and habitable, enabling astronauts to live, communicate, work, and rest effectively. The team evaluates and manages spacecraft noise to maintain acceptable background sound levels, ensure alarm audibility and speech intelligibility, minimize annoyance from tonal and impulsive noise, and verify compliance with NASA acoustic requirements.

In this role, you will collaborate with spacecraft hardware developers to evaluate hardware noise emissions, implement noise control solutions, verify acoustic compliance through analysis and testing, and help ensure safe acoustic environments for current and future human spaceflight missions.

Travel and non‑standard workday support may be required. Periodic teleworking may be allowed per management discretion; however, this position does not allow for full‑time telework.

Primary Responsibilities

• Perform acoustic testing of spaceflight and flight‑like hardware to verify compliance with acoustic requirements. Responsibilities include planning and documenting tests; setting up, calibrating, and operating acoustic instrumentation and data acquisition systems; validating measurement environments; applying data corrections (e.g., background noise); analyzing and reporting results; recommending noise mitigation solutions; and maintaining test documentation and records in accordance with applicable work instructions.
• Support requirements, design, and safety reviews for spaceflight hardware, systems, and vehicles by evaluating acoustic compliance, providing noise control engineering recommendations (e.g., acoustic materials and avionics fan selection), and supporting the development of waivers, exceptions, or noncompliance reports with mitigation strategies when required.
• Install, calibrate, and operate audio demonstration systems that recreate spacecraft acoustic environments, and conduct demonstrations for stakeholders to communicate acoustic performance and compliance.
• Support real‑time acoustic measurements during missions, including measurement planning, crew procedure development, data collection, analysis, troubleshooting, and reporting.
• Develop procedures and deliver training for ground and flight crews on acoustic monitoring equipment and hearing protection devices (HPDs).
• Participate in program meetings and technical reviews, both in person and remotely, as required.
• Evaluate spacecraft‑compatible acoustic materials through testing (e.g., impedance tube and transmission loss measurements) and support flight certification activities, including flammability and off‑gassing assessments.
• Maintain the Acoustics and Noise Control Laboratory (ANCL), including equipment calibration coordination, inventory management, stocking supplies, and general laboratory housekeeping.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree with five years of experience, or a master's degree with three years of experience in acoustics, engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical report writing and the ability to effectively present acoustic concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously while working independently after initial training and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Self‑motivated, proactive, and capable of adapting to a variety of work expectations.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of acoustics, including wave propagation, architectural acoustics, noise control of fans, pumps, and motors, digital signal processing, acoustic material properties, and transducer selection and utilization.
• Experience with acoustic measurement equipment, including condenser microphones, sound level meters, acoustic dosimeters, acoustic calibrators, and data acquisition systems (e.g., Bruel & Kjr PULSE LabShop and BK Connect), as well as data analysis tools such as MATLAB and Excel.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation (e.g., benchtop power supplies and multimeters) and audio equipment, including digital audio interfaces, digital signal processors, and power amplifiers.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
  • Acoustic modeling using Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA), Finite Element Method (FEM), or Boundary Element Method (BEM) with tools such as VA One or Wave6.
  • Characterization of hearing protection devices using a Head and Torso Simulator (HATS).
  • Passive and active hearing protection devices (e.g., headphones and earbuds) and audio systems.
  • Vibration measurement techniques, including accelerometers, modal hammer testing, and laser Doppler vibrometry.
  • Audiometry, acoustic dosimetry, noise exposure metrics, and noise dose calculations.
  • Basic machine shop practices and safe operation of drills, saws, sanders, Dremel-type tools, and similar equipment.
• Familiarity with applicable acoustics and noise measurement standards, including:
  • ASTM E1050
  • ASTM E2611-17
  • NASA-STD-3001, Volume 2
  • ISO 3744
  • ISO 9614-3
  • ISO 10302-1
  • ISO 10534-2
  • World Health Organization (WHO) Environmental Health Criteria 12: Noise

Must be able to pass a Public Trust background investigation. U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Resident status is required.

Pay and Benefits

Pay range: $69,550.00 – $125,725.00. Benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave, and retirement options.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.