Mission Design Engineer with Security Clearance

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with software development and scripting of NASA's trajectory optimization tools and related applications.
• Develop new features and algorithms requested by the NASA customer.
• Perform refactoring and improvements to software architecture for program efficiency.
• Support integration with other trajectory software and tools.
• Perform general program maintenance and fixes.
• Ensure NASA requirements are satisfied by design solutions and support production/control board meetings, design reviews, and system reviews.
• Support regression testing and documentation.
• Provide trajectory products supporting spacecraft mission design and analysis for Deep Space Logistics Moon Base missions and other missions directed by the Deep Space Logistics Project Office.
• Perform trajectory optimization runs to characterize vehicle performance and mission availability for a variety of scenarios.
• Support development, integration, and testing of new algorithms for evaluation of vehicle and mission performance.
• Support mission scenarios including ascent, entry, precision landing, and Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking.
• Travel as required in support of technical reviews and exchanges.
• Provide recommendations for program acceptance of requirements verification, testing, risks, and hazards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering from an accredited engineering school plus eight (8) or more years of experience with spacecraft trajectory analysis; or MS degree in Engineering from an accredited engineering school plus four (4) or more years of experience with spacecraft trajectory analysis.
• Demonstrated capability to independently devise solutions to complex engineering problems through individual effort and by soliciting input from other technical experts.
• Expertise in orbital mechanics and/or spacecraft mission design.
• Experience with programming and scripting languages such as modern Fortran, Python, and/or C++.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and successfully complete a U.S. government background investigation.

Desired Qualifications

• MS degree in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in orbital mechanics and 5-10 years of spacecraft and cislunar trajectory design experience is desired.
• Lunar lander trajectory design experience is desired.
• Expertise in spacecraft trajectory optimization, including use of software tools such as Copernicus, GMAT, MONTE, STK, or FreeFlyer, is desired.
• Experience with spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control algorithms and software is desired.
• Experience with deep space NASA missions is desired.
• Familiarity with NASA organizations, processes, and procedures including NASA Systems Engineering Standards such as the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA Procedural Requirements NPR 7123, and NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Handbook NPR 7120 is desired.
• Experience working with NASA launch services providers is desired.
• Experience with NASA deep space mission systems engineering, including coordinating system requirements verification and validation between multiple organizations and centers, is desired.
• Experience with deep space and/or human-rated space flight is desired.