Operations Technician

Amentum; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Amentum at Johnson Space Center in Houston is seeking an Operations Technician to support Space Vehicle Mockup Facility training for ISS, CST/Boeing, and Artemis programs. You will operate and maintain breathing-air and ECS systems during suited training and, after qualification, serve as Test Director for pressurized events.

You must read procedures, follow checklists with precision, communicate clearly, and keep qualification records.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and 2+ years in operations/maintenance or related technical field.
• Ability to read and execute technical procedures, checklists, and schematics without skipping steps.
• Must be able to obtain NASA PIV badge and complete required ECS certifications.

Responsibilities

• Operate, configure, inspect, troubleshoot, and support breathing-air and ECS equipment.
• Complete ECS Operator OJT tasks including K-bottle install and changeover, and related checks.
• Verify gas purity, pressure, gauges, calibration, and QA before human use.
• Maintain logs, qualification records, and equipment maintenance documentation.
• Support suited training under Test Director control and respond to off-nominal conditions.
• Coordinate with suit technicians, instructors, and facility staff during events.

Skills

Procedures reading

Checklist discipline

Clear communication

Emergency response

Situational awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

ECS equipment

Breathing-air systems

K-bottle/backup air

Compressor-cart operation

Job description

Job Description

This role supports the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) for the Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS), NASA's next-generation mission operations contract located on-site at Johnson Space Center. The Operations Technician plays a direct, hands-on role in training the astronauts who will fly NASA's most critical human spaceflight missions, including the International Space Station (ISS), Commercial Crew (CST/Boeing), and the Artemis/Orion Program - helping get NASA back to the Moon. Operations Technicians support suited training events inside full-scale, made-to-scale spacecraft mockups and prototype training environments by operating and maintaining Environmental Control System (ECS) and breathing-air equipment and, after separate qualification, serving as an SVMF Test Director for pressurized suited events.

Description of Duties

The Operations Technician supports breathing-air, ECS, control-cart, compressor, K-bottle/backup-air, suit-control, and suit-cooling systems used during human-rated training. The role requires disciplined checklist execution, pressure/flow system awareness, clear test-team communications, emergency response, and maintenance of current qualification and system records.

Successful candidates will:

• Operate, configure, inspect, troubleshoot, and support SVMF breathing-air and ECS equipment within documented qualifications and endorsements.
• Complete ECS Operator OJT tasks including K-bottle installation and changeover, manifold and pressure checks, compressor-cart operation, ECS console preparation, air/water connections, communications checks, airflow and cooling-water control, chiller operation, gauge interpretation, shutdown, and emergency actions.
• Verify breathing-gas purity, cleanliness and contamination controls, pressure-system certification status, relief-device status, gauges/flowmeters, calibration, sampling, and required QA/verification before human use.
• Perform authorized operator maintenance and logbook activities for compressors, drains, filters, hoses/fittings, gauges/flowmeters, gas monitors, and associated ECS equipment; route work outside operator scope through approved engineering/controlled-work processes.
• Support suited training under Test Director control and respond immediately to off-nominal conditions including low-flow/pressure anomalies, loss of primary air source, contamination concerns, communications loss, facility emergencies, or medical emergencies.
• After separate Test Director qualification, conduct event briefings, verify test-team readiness and required checklists, direct pressurized event activities, manage anomalies, and place an event in a hold or terminate condition when required for safety.
• Coordinate with suit technicians, suit engineers, instructors/test conductors, communications personnel, facility management, engineering, and other test-team members.
• Maintain required event checklists, qualification records, equipment logs, calibration/maintenance records, and anomaly documentation.
• Support multiple suited-program configurations such as ISS, CST/Boeing, Orion, EHP, and other assigned programs after completing the applicable qualification.
• Maintain qualification currency through recurring ECS training, emergency drills, system-specific delta training, suited-event proficiency, and Test Director currency requirements when qualified.
• Demonstrate strong situational awareness, stop-work judgment, concise communication, and the ability to perform safely in time-critical human-rated operations.
• Operate forklifts, manlifts, overhead cranes/rigging, POGO, PABF, scaffolds, or other specialized equipment only when individually qualified and endorsed.

Job Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of 2 years of operations/maintenance or directly related technical experience to meet SVMF technician candidacy requirements. Technician III classification normally requires 8 years of related experience.
• Must be able to read and execute technical procedures, checklists, schematics, operating limits, and emergency actions without skipping critical steps.
• Must be able to obtain a NASA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Badge for NASA credentials.
• Must be able to complete required SVMF common-core/facility orientation, ECS Console OJT, applicable CPR/First Aid/Electrical Contact Release, physiological training, pressure-systems qualification, gas-monitor/MultiRAE training, emergency drills, and program-specific ECS certifications before independent operation.
• Test Director qualification requires completion of the SVMF Test Director training outline/checklist and successful oral board after meeting candidacy requirements.
• Must be able to support scheduled suited events, qualification runs, drills, and occasional extended-hour, off-shift, or weekend operations.

Desired Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with mechanical, pneumatic, pressure/flow, instrumentation, industrial equipment, aerospace/test systems, or comparable technical operations.
• Current or prior Test Director certification for pressurized suited operations.
• Current or prior ECS/Breathing Air Cart Operator certification for ISS, CST/Boeing, Orion, EHP, or comparable human-rated suited training.
• Experience with ECS/control carts, K-bottle racks/manifolds, breathing-air compressor carts, suit-control/suit-cooling equipment, gas monitoring, and pressure/flow instrumentation.
• Experience supporting EVA/suit operations, hazardous operations, Test Readiness Reviews, Safety Reviews, emergency drills, or formal test conduct.
• Experience maintaining auditable operations, maintenance, calibration, or qualification records.
• Experience troubleshooting mechanical/pneumatic systems while maintaining configuration and procedural control.
• Experience with Office 365 tools and electronic training/maintenance documentation systems.

This position is expected to pay $32 - $39 per hour; depending on experience, education, and any certifications that are directly related to the position.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

Final compensation is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors, including the candidate's educational background, specialized technical expertise, and relevant professional experience. We also consider internal equity, prevailing market data, and specific contractual or funding requirements to ensure competitive and equitable offer alignment.

Physical Requirements

• Lift/carry up to 50 lbs of ECS/breathing-air equipment and cart components
• Stand/kneel/bend/reach for extended periods during suited-event support
• Work near pressurized systems; respond immediately to off-nominal conditions
• Safely operate forklifts/manlifts/cranes once qualified

Compensation Details:

$39.23

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.