Moonbase Test and Evaluation Facility Senior Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 151,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) Plan with company matching

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Flexible spending accounts

Variable pay program

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Moonbase Test and Evaluation Facility Senior Engineer to manage test and evaluation facilities for the Moonbase program. This full-time role is based at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX with onsite work and some remote flexibility as needed.

You will lead safety, compliance, and operations, coordinate with NASA stakeholders, and oversee V&V activities, testing of pressurized suits, rovers, and lunar simulators, while maintaining readiness reviews and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or another STEM degree.
• 10+ years of professional engineering/scientific experience with facilities and safety.
• Experience coordinating with US government and senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide and manage access to a large-scale lunar-simulated testing facility.
• Coordinate test opportunities and ensure facility readiness for Moonbase systems.
• Lead safety reviews, compliance, and incident-prevention efforts.
• Plan testing and lead preparations for pressurized suit operations and rover testing.

Skills

Facilities management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Safety compliance

Project coordination

Cross-functional teamwork

NASA program life cycle

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering or STEM

Tools

Security clearance

Job description

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. 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.

We are looking for a Moonbase Test and Evaluation Facility Senior Engineer (Senior Project Engineer- Technical Project Management). This position will support the Moonbase Program by managing test and evaluation facilities and capabilities for various efforts across Moonbase with key responsibilities associated with managing our Aerospace Corporations footprint at the Texas A&M Space Institute for NASA. This is a full‑time position located at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas with an onsite work model that combines 4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as business needs allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

Facility Operations & Access Management

• Provide and manage regular access to a large-scale, indoor, climate-controlled testing and training facility designed to replicate the lunar surface environment
• Ensure facility readiness for integrated testing of Moon Base‑owned and operated systems
• Coordinate with facility management, stakeholders, customers, and NASA personnel to maintain operational availability
• Support facility maintenance, upkeep, and continuous operational readiness

NASA Program Support and Integration/Coordination

• Work closely with NASA Moonbase Mission & Systems Interoperability office to execute the needs of their test and evaluation plans
• Ensure the facility is meeting the needs of Moonbase M&SI as well as the needs of associated stakeholders and customer teams

Safety & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations, NASA requirements, and OSHA standards
• Maintain a safe working environment for crew, test subjects, and support staff during all facility operations
• Develop, implement, and enforce safety protocols specific to pressurized suit operations, robotic systems, and large-scale vehicle operations
• Conduct regular safety briefings and ensure all personnel are trained on facility-specific hazards and emergency procedures
• Monitor and mitigate risks associated with lunar simulation activities, including dust exposure, suited operations, and heavy equipment use
• Maintain emergency response plans and coordinate with safety personnel for incident prevention

Test & Training Support

• Accommodate realistic testing of pressurized EVA suits, rovers, landers, habitats, robotic systems, and operational procedures in representative lunar terrain
• Facilitate integrated Verification & Validation (V&V) and asset V&V by providing NASA‑managed test capabilities
• Plan and prioritize testing through development and maintenance of test schedules
• Coordinate test opportunities across stakeholder communities and ensure facility needs will meet test requirements
• Ensure and help lead preparations for pressurized suit operations, surface mobility and rover operations, and integrated mission simulations
• Provide leadership and coordination for test and facility readiness reviews, safety reviews, inspections, audits, and certification activities
• Manage test preparation and reporting activities (pre and post)
• Provide appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support suited and robotic testing

Equipment & Asset Management

• Provide, manage, and operate Moon Base facility vehicles, tractors, trailers, attachments, and other equipment required for testing and facility sustainment
• Oversee procurement, inventory, storage, and maintenance of facility equipment, tools, and consumable materials
• Ensure all equipment meets safety standards and operational requirements

What You Need to be Successful- Senior Project Engineer- Technical Project Management

• Bachelor of Science degree or in engineering, science, or another STEM degree
• 10 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience managing facilities and ensuring safety
• Experience leading partnership establishment with US government and engaging senior leaders and facilitating visits and engagements
• Knowledge and understanding of the NASA program life cycle and associated milestone reviews and coordinating across teams to drive operations outcomes
• Expansive experience leading and developing NASA Human In The Loop Testing systems and protocols
• Ability to effectively utilize oral and written communication to express technical concepts and recommendations to personnel at all technical and managerial levels
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner
• Experience working across diverse teams and multiple engineering disciplines, including human in the loop disciplines
• This position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade‑based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. (Min - Max) $151,300.00 - $226,900.00 Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry‑leading benefits. Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.