Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Systems Engineer

George Mason University; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University in Fairfax, VA invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Systems Engineer, sponsored by NASA's Landolt mission. The role spans design, development, testing, and integration across payload, software, and spacecraft bus teams to meet mission requirements.

You will collaborate with faculty, researchers, and external partners, coordinating simulations, analyses, and verification activities while preparing technical documents and mission reports for

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a related field.
• Experience conducting systems engineering for space projects or related domains.
• Familiarity with NASA procedures and space systems practices.
• Ability to coordinate across payload, software, hardware, and mission operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal Landolt Mission technical coordination.
• Work with mission leadership and major stakeholders.
• Co-manage daily operations and resource utilization; advise on priorities.
• Develop and maintain ICDs and interface documents for subsystems.
• Oversee AI&T tasks leading to integrated space vehicle delivery.
• Prepare and present technical reports and reviews to sponsors and partners.

Skills

Systems engineering

Trade studies

Documentation

Team coordination

Education

PhD or equivalent in Aerospace or Systems Engineering

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Systems Engineer

Department: College of Science

Classification: Post Doc 12 month

Job Category: Postdoctoral Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

George Mason University (GMU), a CarnegieResearch Iinstitution, is Virginia's largest and most diverse university with more than38,000 students. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is part of the Washington DC metropolitan area offering easy access to the scientific and political resources of the nation's capital.

George Mason University is committed to advancing inclusion, access, and equal opportunity throughout our community. We believe that a broad range of voices, cultures, and perspectives brings vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community.

The Landolt Mission teamis responsible fordeveloping and executing a NASA space-based mission through coordinated work across science, payload, spacecraft bus, software, systems engineering, integration and test, mission assurance, and project management functions. The unit provides an interdisciplinary research and training environment for faculty, postdoctoral researchers, engineers, staff, and students working collaboratively with federal, academic, commercial, and other external partners.

The Landolt Mission team supports mission formulation, systems engineering, subsystem coordination, technical trade studies, requirements development, verification and validation planning, assembly, integration and testing, technical documentation, mission reviews, and mission operations planning. The unit works collaboratively across payload, spacecraft bus, software, ground systems, mission operations, science, and programmatic interfaces to advance missionobjectivesand meet NASA requirements.

Statement on Building an Inclusive Culture: George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position

This position is sponsored by the NASA Landolt mission. The Postdoctoral Research Mission Systems Engineer (MSE) duties include (at a different level of involvement and responsibility):

• Contribute to all aspects of mission design, development, and testing by coordinating among subsystem element teams, including payload, software, and hardware teams. Coordinate procedural and regulatory compliance aspects of mission alongside technical aspects. Conceive, conduct, and communicate about necessary trade studies among or within subsystem elements and payload.
• Organize, oversee, and participate in assembly, integration, and testing of individual components, modules, and satellite bus. As necessary, coordinates and participates in integration of assembled satellite bus with launch vehicle and pad facilities.
• Identify, support/coordinate, and/or operate relevant simulations and analysis tools to predict, track, and redirect key mission performance parameters, including, but not necessarily limited to, subsystem or overall mass, volume, and power budgets; scientific performance; and risk throughout the system lifecycle. Communicate decision points, outcomes, and summaries upward to all other members of the Landolt Mission team.
• Document activities for the Landolt Mission through mission reviews, mission reports, mission documentation, technical publications in a manner consistent with space-based projects and published results in professional scientific journals.
• Work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment composed of scientists, engineers, students, project management and support staff at multiple institutions, federal, academic, and commercial partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal Landolt Mission technical coordination;
• Work closely with mission leadership and major stakeholders;
• Co-manage daily operations and resource utilization; and
• Provide recommendations regarding technical priorities and resource utilization.

Mission Systems Development

• Conduct and/or oversee trade studies and subsystem analyses;
• Guide development of Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for all subsystems, including hardware, software, payload, and bus subsystems;
• Guide, oversee, and participate in all assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) tasks leading to successful integration of payload, bus, software, and complete space vehicle;
• Identify and comply with all applicable NASA space systems requirements and procedures; and
• Carry out or oversee system modeling and characterizations of system components and subsystems.

Research Support

• Conduct mission-relevant research and technical investigations under the guidance of the faculty mentor and Landolt Mission leadership to advance mission science, systems engineering, instrument development, and/or spaceflight technology objectives;
• Develop, execute, analyze, and document research studies, simulations, models, trade studies, and technical analyses that support Landolt Mission design decisions, performance assessment, risk reduction, and technology maturation; and
• Review and synthesize relevant scientific, engineering, NASA, and spaceflight literature, standards, and technical documentation to inform mission planning, system development, and research priorities.

Reporting

• Co-lead the writing and production of formal technical reports, progress reports, and reviews for NASA (e.g., PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, ORR) in a manner consistent with NASA's documentation requirements, standards, and guidelines (e.g., NPR 7120.5/8);
• Write or co-write papers for professional journals and conferences;
• Attend meetings with sponsors and collaborators, federal, commercial, and academic partners when necessary, occasionally requiring travel outside of the DC metropolitan area; and
• Assist in the pursuit of new and continued George Mason University Space Center projects and funding support (e.g., new, extended, and follow-on missions/projects).

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a related field (i.e., PhD or equivalent in Aerospace Engineering or Systems Engineering or related field with an emphasis on space systems development);
• Experience conducting systems engineering for a relevant project in the space domain or a relevant domain;
• Knowledge of and ability to conduct systems engineering for a relevant project in the space domain or a relevant domain;
• Familiarity with systems engineering procedures and practices; and
• Familiarity with or knowledge of NASA procedures and practices, or with procedures and practices for other spacefaring organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hybrid missions, operations planning, space hardware, electronics, embedded system development, and NASA procedures and practices;
• Experience in the design, development, and testing of space instruments, payloads, or electronic systems;
• Knowledge of and ability to implement or follow NASA procedures and practices;
• Knowledge of remote sensing missions, technical knowledge of optics, laser systems, space flight hardware, and/or embedded software for space applications are desirable; and
• Knowledge of hybrid missions and/or operations planning.

Posting Open Date

October 7, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by

November 1, 2026

Open Until Filled

Yes