Space Environment Engineer

Amentum company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) retirement benefits

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a Space Environments Engineer to support NASA JSC programs such as Moon Base, Artemis, HLS, CLDP, and SR-1 with multidisciplinary analysis, modeling, and systems engineering. You will work on space environments requirements, verification plans, and hazard assessments, collaborating across centers and contractors.

The role involves developing models, analyzing contamination and environmental effects, and conducting trade studies to mitigate risks while supporting program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering; license and certification may be required
• 3+ years of related work experience or equivalent (MS/PhD)
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience in scientific programming and software development for modeling/simulation
• Strong analytical and computational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary field
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Define natural and induced space environments and related modeling
• Develop and update semi-empirical/theoretical models of space environments
• Analyze contamination and lunar dust sources and transport
• Assess optical property impacts from contamination in various environments
• Analyze plasma effects, spacecraft charging, radiation transport
• Ensure compatibility of hardware with space environments
• Support systems engineering requirements and verification
• Conduct trade studies to identify risks and mitigations
• Participate in milestone reviews
• Perform additional duties as required

Skills

Analytical skills

Computational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

MS/PhD in Engineering or Physics

Tools

Matlab

Python

Creo

NX

FEMAP

Tecplot

ParaView

MCNP

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration and avionics development? Join our diverse, mission‑driven team!

We need your creativity, teamwork, and diverse perspectives to help build systems that enable space exploration and benefit life on Earth.

Join us as we tackle exciting challenges for NASA’s deep‑space missions. Amentum is NASA’s largest engineering solutions provider, working together with centers across the United States.

The JETS Space Environments team is seeking a Space Environments Engineer to join Intuitive Machines, a teammate company to provide multidisciplinary technical analysis/modeling and systems engineering support to NASA JSC across programs like Moon Base, Artemis, HLS, CLDP, and SR-1.

The Space Environments Engineer 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

Requisition 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

Requisition Preferences:

• 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.)
• 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

Why Join Our Team?

In addition to exciting career opportunities, we also ave:

• Excellent personal and professional career growth
• 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off), when applicable
• Onsite cafeteria (breakfast & lunch)
• Much, much more!

For more information on our partnership with NASA at Johnson Space Center (JSC), please visit www.wehavespaceforyou.com

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency may be a requirement for this position.
• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised.

Essential Functions

Work Environment

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on task.

Physical Requirements

Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of time). May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of time).

Equipment and Machines

Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, printer, etc.).

Attendance

Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical. Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements.

Other Essential Functions

Professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation. Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

#JETS #JETSII

Compensation Details:

EN3-ESS

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.