Space Environment Engineer

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Positive work-life balance

Employer-paid insurance (medical, etc)

11 paid holidays

Generous PTO

401k after 12 months

Education assistance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

McLaurin Aerospace, Houston, TX, seeks a Space Environment Engineer to join the NASA Johnson Space Center program. You will define and model natural and induced space environments, analyze contamination sources like lunar dust, and assess effects on spacecraft hardware and missions.

You will collaborate across disciplines, perform software-based simulations, and contribute to requirements and verification planning throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and normally possess 5-10 years of related experience.
• License and certification may be required.
• 3+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience (e.g., MS or PhD)
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience in scientific computer programming and software development for analytical and physics-based modeling and simulation
• Strong analytical and computational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary field
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Provide support to NASA programs in defining natural and induced space environments through multidisciplinary analysis and modeling.
• Develop and update semi-empirical and theoretical models of processes related to spacecraft space environments.
• Analyze contamination sources, including lunar dust, and transport phenomena affecting spacecraft and payloads.
• Assess optical property impacts from contamination and exposure to space environments.
• Analyze plasma effects, spacecraft charging, and radiation transport impacting hardware.
• Support systems engineering in requirements and verification planning across program lifecycles.
• Conduct trade studies to identify risks and mitigation strategies and participate in hazard reviews.
• Participate in programmatic milestone reviews and other duties as required

Skills

Space environment modeling

Contamination analysis

Data analysis

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Scientific programming

Communication skills

Linux experience

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Creo/NX

Tecplot/ParaView

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Space Environment Engineer to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Provide support to NASA programs in the definition of natural and induced space environments, including with multidisciplinary analysis and modeling, working in concert with NASA civil servants and designated contractors

• Develop and update semi-empirical and theoretical models of processes relevant to spacecraft natural and induced environments

• Analyze/model molecular and particulate contamination sources, including lunar dust, and transport from materials outgassing, vacuum venting, and rocket engine and thruster pluming processes onto spacecraft, elements, and payloads

• Analyze optical property impacts from molecular and particulate contamination, including lunar dust, and exposure to orbital and lunar surface environments (e.g., to ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, and atomic oxygen)

• Analyze/model plasma effects, spacecraft charging, radiation transport and effects on hardware

• Assess compatibility of spacecraft hardware with natural and induced space environments

• Provide systems engineering support in space environments requirements and verification plan development as well as requirement and verification activities throughout the life of a program

• Conduct systems engineering trade studies to identify potential risks and mitigations, evaluate induced environmental hazards between vehicles, and participate in hazard/risk reviews

• Participate in programmatic milestone reviews

• Perform other duties as required

Qualifications:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.

• 3 or more years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience (e.g., M.S. or Ph.D.)

• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite

• Experience in scientific computer programming and software development for analytical and physics-based modeling and simulation

• Strong analytical and computational skills

• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary field

• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Nuclear), Physics or Chemistry

• 5 or more years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience (e.g., M.S. or Ph.D.)[DI1.1][HI1.2]

• Experience with NASA programs and projects, for example, Gateway and Artemis

• Experience with external contamination/molecular deposition analysis codes and/or tools including CAD, meshing, and visualization software (e.g., Matlab, Python, Creo, NX, FEMAP, Tecplot, ParaView, LS Dyna, etc.)

• Experience with materials outgassing, molecular transport, thin film deposition, optical property degradation, molecular gas dynamics, and/or multi-phase flows

• Experience with hypergolic and Hall Effect thrusters' operation as well as associated plume characteristics

• Experience with NASA and industry standards relating to contamination control and experimental characterization of materials outgassing (e.g., ASTM E1559)

• Knowledge of natural and induced space environments and related materials effects, including thermal vacuum stability, radiation (ionizing and UV), plasma charging, atomic oxygen, thermal cycling)

• Knowledge of lunar dust characteristics and effects, including for optical property and impact damage assessments, and of the lunar surface environment

• Knowledge of GCR, solar wind/ plasma, CMEs/SEPs, and solar irradiance

• Experience with plasma charging and ionizing radiation analyses or related tools (NASCAP, SPIS, IRI, AE9/AP9, CREME96, SHIELDOSE, ESP/PHYCHIC, MCNP, HZTRAN, SPENVIS, etc.)

• Experience with the Linux operating system

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.

Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.