Spacecraft Avionics and C&DH Engineer

METECS; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

METECS is seeking a motivated Avionics Systems Engineer to support the NASA EV2 Command and Data Handling Branch. This position will contribute to the development and integration of avionics, computing, networking, and C&DH architecture for Moon Base habitation systems and lunar surface assets.

The selected candidate will collaborate with NASA personnel and contractors to define interfaces, support trade studies, mature Moon Base concepts, and lead documentation and test activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience with spacecraft avionics, command and data handling, embedded computing, network architecture, data systems, or a closely related technical area.
• Experience with network protocols, network architecture, avionics communication systems, or distributed computing systems.
• Ability to evaluate technical information, identify integration issues, and develop practical engineering recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with customers, contractors, engineering teams, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams with a range of technical backgrounds.
• Ability to create clear engineering documentation, requirements, interface descriptions, analysis products, and technical presentations.

Responsibilities

• Develop Moon Base C&DH, avionics, computing, and network architecture.
• Define and assess system requirements, interfaces, interoperability, redundancy, and fault management.
• Identify architecture gaps, integration risks, constraints, and technical issues.
• Evaluate computing and networking approaches for reliability and performance.
• Develop and use testbeds, simulations, and emulators to support integration and verification.
• Support testing, demonstrations, technical reviews, and discrepancy resolution.
• Coordinate technical activities with NASA, contractors, partners, and engineering teams.
• Document technical decisions, results, risks, and recommendations.

Skills

Network protocols

Network architecture

Avionics communication systems

Distributed computing systems

Engineering judgment

Written and verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline

Tools

Spacecraft C&DH

Embedded computing

Testbeds and simulations

Job description

METECS is seeking a motivated Avionics Systems Engineer to support the NASA EV2 Command and Data Handling Branch. This position will contribute to the development and integration of avionics, computing, networking, and C&DH architecture for future Moon Base habitation systems, utility and infrastructure systems, and lunar surface assets.

The selected candidate will work with NASA personnel, contractors, engineering organizations, and other stakeholders to develop requirements, evaluate architecture options, define interfaces, support trade studies, and mature integrated Moon Base C&DH concepts. The work may include habitation systems, power and communications infrastructure, rovers, relay systems, partner-provided systems, and other lunar surface elements.

This on-site position involves working closely with NASA and contractor engineering teams through technical meetings, design reviews, integration efforts, demonstrations, and test events.

Responsibilities:

• Develop Moon Base C&DH, avionics, computing, and network architecture.
• Define and assess system requirements, interfaces, interoperability, redundancy, and fault management.
• Identify architecture gaps, integration risks, constraints, and technical issues.
• Evaluate computing and networking approaches for reliability and performance.
• Develop and use testbeds, simulations, and emulators to support integration and verification.
• Support testing, demonstrations, technical reviews, and discrepancy resolution.
• Coordinate technical activities with NASA, contractors, partners, and engineering teams.
• Document technical decisions, results, risks, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience with spacecraft avionics, command and data handling, embedded computing, network architecture, data systems, or a closely related technical area.
• Experience with network protocols, network architecture, avionics communication systems, or distributed computing systems.
• Ability to evaluate technical information, identify integration issues, and develop practical engineering recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with customers, contractors, engineering teams, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams with a range of technical backgrounds.
• Ability to create clear engineering documentation, requirements, interface descriptions, analysis products, and technical presentations.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with spacecraft C&DH, flight computers, embedded systems, or avionics networks.
• Familiarity with TSN, TTE, Deterministic Ethernet, or similar communication technologies.
• Experience with network performance, redundancy, fault management, and resilient architecture.
• Experience with integration labs, testbeds, simulations, hardware-in-the-loop systems, or spacecraft testing.
• Knowledge of requirements management, interface development, architecture modeling, and verification planning.
• Experience working with NASA, contractors, international partners, or other multidisciplinary organizations.
• Familiarity with lunar surface systems, habitats, power and communications infrastructure, robotics, or autonomous systems.

Citizenship or lawful permanent resident required due to federal position.

About METECS

We are a high-performance team providing advanced engineering, software, and analysis solutions for human space flight and terrestrial applications. We develop and integrate custom software for NASA and other government and commercial customers utilizing a wide variety of in-house, commercial, and open-source technologies. Our specialties include robotics automation, embedded systems, hardware/software integration, multibody dynamics simulations, immersive computer graphics, XR systems and advanced web-based tools.

METECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.