Flight Termination System ElectricalEngineer

APT Research is an employee-owned engineering services company specializing in safety and quality analyses for the U.S. Government. We offer competitive salaries, advancement opportunities aligned with professional development interests, and excellent benefits, including recognition as a best place for working parents. Our employees are owners, sharing in the commitment to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative solutions.

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical Engineer specializing in Flight Termination Systems (FTS) to join our aerospace engineering team in the Range Safety Operations Division at Wallops Flight Facility. This role is critical to ensuring the safety, reliability, and compliance of launch vehicle operations. The incumbent will review designs, test, and certify FTS hardware and electronics that meet stringent regulatory and mission requirements.

APT is the prime contractor for the Safety and Mission Services (SMAS III) contract at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), supporting locations in Greenbelt, MD, and Wallops Island, VA. We provide full lifecycle hardware and software quality oversight, reliability and risk assessments, system safety design, and operational support for NASA’s science and exploration missions, including the Roman Space Telescope (RST) and Dragonfly (Titan moon) probe. We also deliver flight safety analysis and operational support for NASA/Wallops orbital and suborbital rockets, balloons, and other aerial projects.

Responsibilities

• Review, test, and certify Flight Termination System (FTS) hardware and electronics to ensure compliance with regulatory and mission requirements.
• Apply expertise in Radio Frequency (RF) systems, command destruct receivers, and high-reliability circuit design.
• Conduct environmental testing, including thermal, vibration, and Electromagnetic Interference/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMI/EMC).
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to solve complex engineering challenges.
• Ensure adherence to NASA, MIL-STD, and FAA range safety and FTS requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in aerospace or defense electronics, with a focus on FTS or safety-critical systems.
• Hands-on experience with FTS and/or safety-critical systems for rockets.
• Strong knowledge of RF systems, command destruct receivers, and high-reliability circuit design.
• Familiarity with NASA, MIL-STD, and FAA range safety and FTS requirements.
• Experience with environmental testing (thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in cross-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for an unescorted badge and pass a background investigation and drug test.
• Security clearance may be required depending on the program.

Work Environment

• Full-time role, typically 40+ hours per week, with periodic extended shifts, weekends, holidays, and shift changes (1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift as required).
• Work in excess of 40 hours per week (compensatory time or overtime, when approved) will be frequently required.
• Work may occur in non-environmentally controlled areas, at heights (with fall protection), and in confined spaces.
• Domestic travel may be required.

Physical Requirements

• Extended periods of standing, stooping, and bending.
• Ability to climb stairs.
• Ability to lift objects weighing more than 15 lbs.

Other Essential Functions

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, make rational decisions, and exercise good judgment.
• Work attire must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk to the employee or others.