Mechanical Design Chief Engineer, Space Exploration Applications

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? We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. 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.

About the Role

This position reports directly to the Design and Analysis Group Manager and is responsible for the direct technical oversight of approximately 100 people involved in various aspects of Mechanical System Development across and in support of several NASA Engineering Divisions.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine mechanical design reviews for cost, schedule, risk management, and deliverable adherence.
• Conduct oversight, mentorship, and guidance to individual mechanical design task leads.
• Work with mechanical design task leads to track and maintain efficient task performance.
• Maintain an active list of lessons learned to inform design engineers.
• Lead team to conduct troubleshooting, fault tree development, and provide technical resolution for anomalies in mechanical systems.
• Maintain active risk management (technical, cost, and schedule) on all associated mechanical tasks.
• Communicate design status to senior management.
• Coordinate issue resolution across multiple NASA JSC and JETS contract organizations, addressing source limitations, technical challenges, and process breakdowns.
• Establish a framework and oversight for technical correctness on all work performed by the design section.
• Conduct design reviews to monitor technical correctness, design project health, and progress.
• Generate comprehensive design concepts based on a given set of requirements.
• Work with engineers to provide a hands-on approach in the hardware design, build, and test/verification process.
• Provide rough orders of magnitude (ROMs) and basis of estimates (BOEs) for projects and tasks.
• Provide quick technical and administrative responses to projects, removing roadblocks to ensure project success and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as a Project Technical Design Lead as required to supplement or replace current design lead functions.
• Review, develop, or update Mechanical Design and Development processes as required.
• Develop a succession plan mentoring future Chief Engineers and Technical Design Leads.
• Develop technical training modules as required.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Aerospace preferred). A related master’s degree may be expected.
• Typically 10–15 years of related experience.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience with NASA/JSC Mechanical flight intravehicular and extravehicular hardware development processes.
• Prior experience using solid modeling CAD software including PTC CREO, Pro Engineering, or Solidworks.
• Experience with ASME Y14.5 Dimensioning and Tolerancing Standards.
• Experience with ASME Y14.100 Engineering Drawing Practices Standards.
• Experience with tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Familiarity with mechanisms design.
• Familiarity with electronics packaging and cabling.
• Prior experience with down and in mechanical component design (including large structures, mechanisms, electronics packaging, fluid systems, etc.).
• Previous project or technical team/task management experience.
• Familiarity with NASA Work Instruction EA-023, JSC Policy Directive 7120 (Class 1E), along with flight hardware certification and other flight hardware processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills with the ability to work in a team environment and a history of effectively interacting with senior managers at all levels.
• Experience planning and establishing work priorities.
• Proficient in MS Office programs, particularly MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarization with JSC Engineering Drawing System Manual (JPR 8500).
• Familiarization with JSC Fabrication Tolerances and Practices (SKZ36103755).
• Familiarity with mechanical design for EMI/EMC and electrical bonding methods.
• Familiarity with mechanical design for fluid and pressure systems.
• Familiarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) programs.
• Prior experience with CREO simulation tools.
• Prior experience with add-on CREO Tools such as DFM Pro, CETOL, EZTOL, or MBDVidia.
• Prior experience in NASA payload system mechanical design.
• Understanding of surface finishes and material selection.
• Exposure to Model Based Design methods and software tools.
• Exposure to Pro/CABLING.
• Prior experience with a wide range of technical approaches and theory for the associated design discipline.

Benefits

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

Pay

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.

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.