Electrostatics Specialist Engineer - Space Exploration Avionics Systems

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Positive work-life balance

Employer-paid insurance

11 paid holidays

Generous PTO

401k after 12 months

Education assistance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Mclaurin Aerospace seeks an Electrostatics Specialist Engineer for Space Exploration Avionics Systems to join the JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. You will lead and perform spacecraft charging analyses, model electrostatic environments, and support design verification for space vehicles.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering with extensive experience in ESD, materials behavior, and lab testing; some positions prefer a Master's degree.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and normally possess 5-10 years of related experience.
• Lead and perform analysis of spacecraft charging environments, including surface charging, internal charging, differential potentials, plasma interactions, and discharge event risk.
• Develop and validate electrostatic models to support design, verification, and certification of space vehicles, and ground vehicles.
• Design and support laboratory and field testing, including high‑voltage discharge testing, plasma chamber testing, triboelectric charge measurements, and ESD characterization testing.
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-4003, NASA-HDBK-4002, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-461 as applied to spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Serve as subject-matter expert in high-charging environments and perform spacecraft charging analyses.
• Support engineering teams developing spacecraft, rovers, or other platforms where electrostatic risks exist.
• Show deep experience in high-charge generation, discharge mitigation, and materials behavior.
• Evaluate circuits and box-level designs for ESD protection.
• Report to the Electronics and Electrical Section Manager as part of a large team.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

EMA-3D Charge

Ansys HFSS

LT-Spice

NASCAP

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Electrostatics Specialist Engineer - Space Exploration Avionics Systems to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in high‑charging environments, with primary responsibilities in spacecraft charging analysis, surface potentials, electrostatic discharge (ESD) mitigation, materials evaluation, and vehicle‑level electrostatic risk assessments.
• Supports engineering teams developing spacecraft, rovers, or other platforms where electrostatic phenomena present mission, safety, or performance risks.
• Show deep experience in high‑charge generation, discharge mitigation, and advanced materials behavior.
• Evaluate circuits and box level designs for ESD protection.
• Report directly to the Electronics and Electrical Section Manager as part of group of over 45 other Electronics and Electrical Engineers

Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Physics or Materials from an accredited engineering school and a minimum of 7 years of job-related experience or equivalent.
• Lead and perform analysis of spacecraft charging environments, including surface charging, internal charging, differential potentials, plasma interactions, and discharge event risk.
• Develop and validate electrostatic models to support design, verification, and certification of space vehicles, and ground vehicles.
• Design and support laboratory and field testing, including high‑voltage discharge testing, plasma chamber testing, triboelectric charge measurements, and ESD characterization testing.
• Knowledge, understanding and application of NASA-STD-4003, NASA-HDBK-4002, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-461 as applied to spacecraft.
• Strong communications and analytical skills; working knowledge of computer systems and integrated software application programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in engineering, Physics or Materials from an accredited engineering school
• Experience with EMA-3D Charge, Ansys HFSS, LT-Spice, NASCAP Spacecraft Charging Software tools.
• Understanding of different Orbits and how that applied to Spacecraft Charging Environments.
• Evaluate materials for charge accumulation, dissipation, and susceptibility to ESD, including coatings, polymers, composites, thermal blankets, and wiring insulation.
• Assess electronic parts, circuits, and systems to evaluate electrostatic risks, mitigation effectiveness, and ability to meet performance and reliability requirements.
• Define and recommend mitigation strategies such as bonding schemes, conductive coatings, passivation techniques, and operational constraints.
• Conduct ESD hazard assessments for aerospace systems, triboelectric charging during flight, and vehicle‑level discharge pathways.
• Provide electrostatics expertise across multidisciplinary teams and translate stakeholder insights into system‑level risk assessments and models.
• Review design changes and mission concepts for electrostatic implications, contributing to risk analysis and anomaly investigations.
• Familiarity with systems engineering and integration (S&EI) and/or specialty engineering for NASA spaceflight (or similar complexity).
• Analyze and interpret complex avionic design products including schematics, block diagrams, component specifications, parts lists, fault tree analysis, etc.
• Experience with test hardware such as oscilloscopes, multi-meters, logic analyzers, function generators, electronic load banks, power supplies, power and analyzers.
• Clearly communicate electrostatic concepts, risks, and mitigation strategies.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.

Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.