Experimental Aerothermodynamics Engineer

Analytical Mechanics Associates; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid personal leave

401(k) matching plan

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. seeks an Aerothermodynamics Engineer to support the NASA Ames Research Center in the EAST and other facilities. This onsite role centers on high-enthalpy testing with cutting-edge diagnostics and data acquisition.

The salary ranges from $135k to $160k, commensurate with experience. Responsibilities include planning experiments, developing optical diagnostics, characterizing material response, and coordinating with facility staff and collaborators.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong background in experimental techniques for fluid mechanics from academic research, thesis work, internships, or professional employment.
• Experience using scientific programming or scripting languages for engineering analysis and data processing.
• Ability to document technical work and communicate results clearly; publication record in international venues.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute experimental campaigns in high-enthalpy test facilities (shock tubes, plasma wind tunnels).
• Develop, integrate, and operate optical diagnostics (emission spectroscopy, laser/absorption spectroscopy) with detectors.
• Develop and operate measurement techniques for material response (pyrometry, radiometry, infrared imaging, emissivity).
• Configure, control, and synchronize hardware, optics, spectrometers, cameras, lasers, and data acquisition for time-resolved measurements.
• Document experimental procedures, facility conditions, instrument configurations, calibrations, uncertainties, and results.
• Coordinate experimental activities with facility personnel, collaborators, and researchers.

Skills

Experimental techniques

Data processing

Communication of results

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

Fortran 90

C++

Linux

Job description

Job Description:

Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. is seeking an Aerothermodynamics Engineer to support the Aerothermodynamics branch (Code TSA) within the Entry Systems and Technology Division at NASA Ames Research Center. The selected candidate will support high enthalpy testing in the Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) and other experimental facilities at NASA Ames Research Center. This is an onsite role and the salary range is $135k-$160k, depending on experience.

Responsibilities

• Planning and execution of experimental campaigns in high-enthalpy ground-test facilities, including shock tubes, plasma wind tunnels, and comparable aerothermodynamic test environments.
• Development, integration, and operation of optical diagnostic techniques, including optical emission spectroscopy, laser and broadband absorption spectroscopy, using intensified, infrared and high-speed detectors.
• Development, integration, and operation of measurement techniques for material-response characterization, including pyrometry, radiometry, infrared imaging, emissivity and recession measurements.
• Configuration, control and synchronization of experimental hardware, optical systems, spectrometers, cameras, lasers, instrumentation, and data‑acquisition equipment for time resolved measurements.
• Documentation of experimental procedures, facility conditions, instrument configurations, calibrations, assumptions, uncertainties, and test results.
• Coordination of experimental activities with facility personnel, collaborators and researchers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
• Strong background in experimental techniques for fluid mechanics through academic research, thesis work, internships, or professional employment.
• Experience using scientific programming or scripting languages for engineering analysis and data processing.
• Ability to document technical work and communicate experimental results clearly. Track record of publication of research findings in reputed international conferences and journals.
• Ability to collaborate across experimental, computational, diagnostic, and multidisciplinary research teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Analysis of experimental datasets using image processing, signal processing, visualization, and comparison of experimental measurements with numerical predictions.
• Interpretation, validation and investigation of thermochemical non-equilibrium phenomena, including radiative, kinetic and gas‑surface interaction processes, using experimental data and numerical simulations.
• Demonstrated ability to model aerothermodynamics, radiation, and gas‑surface interaction phenomena with first principles knowledge of fluid dynamics, physical chemistry, thermodynamic and transport processes.
• Ability to use Linux‑based computing environments, scientific programming languages such as Python, Fortran 90, and C++.

Employment Eligibility

This position is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and eligible foreign nationals whose country of birth and current citizenship are not included on NASA's Designated Countries List (https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control/). Employment is subject to U.S. work authorization and approval for access to NASA Ames facilities and systems.

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. AMA is a small business with a wide reach; headquartered in Hampton, VA, AMA has operations in Greenbelt, MD; Huntsville, AL; Dallas and Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Mountain View, CA; and Edwards Air Force Base, CA. With over 60 years of experience, AMA specializes in aerospace engineering, science, analytics, information technology, and visualization solutions. AMA combines the best of engineering, science, and mathematics capabilities with the latest in information technologies, visualization, and multimedia to build creative solutions.

We offer competitive salaries and a substantial benefits package, including but not limited to

• paid personal and federally recognized holiday leave
• salary deferrals into a 401(k)-matching plan with immediate vesting
• tuition reimbursement
• short/long term disability plans
• a variety of medical, dental, and vision insurance options

AMA is committed to the professional growth of every employee, understanding that the successes of our employees drive our success. We provide a work environment that is engaging, collaborative, and supportive. To learn more about our company, please visit our website at www.ama-inc.com/careers and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

AMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited under federal, state, or local laws.