Senior Financial Analyst - NASA Goddard

Clear Destination Inc.; Greenbelt, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ASRC Federal AFSS in Greenbelt, MD is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to support NASA contract activities in cost estimation and program planning. You will perform parametric cost estimates, develop BOE packages, and conduct Joint Confidence Level analyses for GSFC programs, interfacing with scientists, engineers, and leadership.

Responsibilities include benchmarking estimates, documenting methodologies, and communicating results to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace or related field and eight+ years in cost estimation.

Responsibilities

• Provide parametric cost estimating support across NASA GSFC flight projects and Center Development portfolios.
• Develop lifecycle cost estimates and BOEs aligned with NASA cost estimating practices.
• Support JCL analyses and risk assessments per NPR 7120.5F.
• Prepare briefings and reports for PP&C Office leadership and decision makers.
• Archive cost estimating data per NASA repository requirements.

Skills

Cost estimation

JCL analysis

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace or related field

Tools

SEER-H

NICM

PCEC

ACEIT/JACS

Monte Carlo software (e.g., @RISK, Crystal Ball)

Job description

ASRC Federal AFSS is a premier provider of systems engineering, software engineering, system integration and project management services for real-time, mission-critical defense systems. We are seeking a Senior Financial Analys t to support a NASA contract in Greenbelt, MD.

Responsibilities:

The Project Planning & Control (PP&C) Office at NASA, Goddard is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to provide mission planning, concept development, formulation, and proposal activities as well as Joint Confidence Level (JCL) analyses across GSFC flight project and Center Development portfolios. Executive business support includes the following:

Parametric Cost Estimating Support

• Provide a senior-level parametric cost estimating analyst to support the PP&C Office, Code 155, in mission planning, concept development, formulation, and proposal activities across the GSFC flight project and Center Development portfolios.
• Develop lifecycle cost estimates using parametric cost modeling tools approved for use by the NASA Strategic Insights and Budget (SIB) Division and referenced in the NASA Cost Estimating Handbook, including but not limited to SEER-H, NICM, and PCEC.
• Support early-lifecycle and pre-formulation cost estimation activities, including rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimates, capability- and requirements-driven parametric estimates for mission and instrument concepts at low levels of technical maturity, and cost feasibility assessments to inform concept development decisions.
• Support the Integrated Design Center (IDC) with cost estimating services for architecture studies, trade studies, and mission concept assessments, providing timely parametric estimates consistent with the level of technical definition available and the quick turnaround nature of IDC engagements.
• Work collaboratively with flight project scientists, systems engineers, and resource analysts to validate technical baselines and ground rules and assumptions (GR&A) used as model inputs.
• Develop, document, and maintain Basis of Estimate (BOE) packages in accordance with NASA cost estimating best practices, ensuring estimates are traceable, defensible, and consistent with applicable AO requirements or programmatic guidance.
• Perform cost benchmarking and cross-check analyses using multiple estimating methodologies (parametric, analogy as appropriate) to increase confidence in and defensibility of estimates.
• Effectively communicate cost estimate results, key assumptions, cost drivers, and risk findings to PP&C Office leadership and GSFC decision makers through written reports and verbal briefings.
• Support collection, documentation, and archiving of cost estimating data, models, and results in accordance with NASA data repository requirements (e.g. CADRe, ONCE), as directed by the PP&C Office.
• Provide interim and final work products including data, methodologies, models, tools, and associated documentation within timeframes specified by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Provide reach-back access to additional cost estimating, data collection, and program analysis specialists as required to meet surge demand or specialized technical needs.

Joint Confidence Level (JCL) Analysis Support

• Provide support to the PP&C Office, Code 155, for Joint Confidence Level (JCL) analyses in accordance with NPR 7120.5F requirements and NASA JCL best practices, as documented in the NASA Cost Estimating Handbook (CEH Appendix J) and the Joint Cost and Schedule Risk and Uncertainty Handbook.
• Develop and maintain cost and schedule mappings using project Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) logic networks, and programmatic ground rules and assumptions.
• Identify, analyze, and quantify discrete cost and schedule risks and uncertainties for projects in development, coordinating with project teams to ensure risk register alignment.
• Execute JCL simulations using JACS or other approved tools and produce results including confidence level outputs, sensitivity analyses, and cost/schedule risk drivers at required confidence levels (e.g., 70% JCL per NPR 7120.5F).
• Prepare and brief JCL results and supporting analysis, including GR&A, cost/schedule correlation assumptions, and risk quantification rationale, to PP&C Office leadership, Projects, and GSFC/HQ decision makers as required.
• Support iterative JCL refinement through KDP preparation cycles, coordinating with project teams and independent review teams (SRB/GSRT) as directed.
• Provide reach-back access to cost and schedule risk/uncertainty, advanced probabilistic modeling, and statistical analysis specialists as required.

Requirements:

Hands-on experience with at least two of the following NASA CEH-referenced tools: SEER-H, NICM, PCEC, ACEIT/JACS. Experience with Monte Carlo simulation tools (e.g., @RISK, Crystal Ball, or equivalent) is required.

Experience developing and documenting Basis of Estimate (BOE) packages consistent with NASA or equivalent government cost estimating standards.

Demonstrated experience performing JCL or integrated cost and schedule risk analysis for NASA or other government space programs is preferred.

Familiarity with the NASA project lifecycle, NPR 7120.5F programmatic requirements, and the GSFC competitive proposal process is preferred.

Strong written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability to present technical cost estimating results to senior leadership.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and eight years of experience or 11 years of experience in aerospace or space systems cost estimation in lieu of education.