Navigation Lead Engineer for Human Landing Systems (ES4)

About the role

The Sr Aerospace Navigation Lead Engineer stewards a team of navigation engineers across NASA centers that perform independent navigation analysis and simulation for the Human Lander System (HLS) program to assess and communicate risk to the HLS Chief Engineer and HLS commercial partners. This position will require demonstrated strong leadership and communications skills as well as strong technical background, including deep space navigation, orbit determination, on-board navigation sensor modelling, accelerometers, gyros, IMUs, radar, lidar, sensor fusion, and Kalman filtering techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the insight/oversight effort of the HLS GNC group (across NASA centers) with regards to all aspects of the navigation system
• Leading efforts for the Modeling and simulation of landing performance analysis of HLS trajectories
• Leading efforts for the integration of all relevant models into the simulation, including on-orbit estate estimation using ground tracking (e.g. range and doppler form Deep Space Network stations), on-board state estimation fusing inertial measurements with terrain relative sensing such as optical, radar, lidar measurements
• Stewards trade studies to assess navigation performance under dispersed model parameters to assess uncertainty of unknown model parameters, and evaluates navigation margins
• Affirms HLS commercial partner test data and partner sensors and models
• Develops in-house models and/or integrates sensor models from HLS commercial providers into 6-DOF simulations such as the GeneraLized Aerospace Simulation in Simulink (GLASS) tool
• Performs and stewards deep space navigation studies to assess HLS partner’s navigation performance using FreeFlyer, MONTE or JSC-Linear Covariance Tool (SIGMA)
• Executes/modify existing software/scripts in Python, Matlab, Fortran, C++
• Communicates navigation margin findings to HLS Chief Engineer and HLS commercial partners
• Maintains and strengthens NASA HLS cross-center navigation team
• Develops and coordinates with the GNC discipline strategic planning for growing navigation expertise at MSFC

Requirements

• Significant navigation experience
• Technical leadership experience
• Deep space navigation including ground tracking orbit determination or similar experience
• Onboard strap on navigation, including IMU, Radar/Lidar, sensor fusion, and Kalman filtering or similar experience

Qualifications

• A degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or related field from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical leadership of a team of navigation engineers.
• Ph.D., MS, or BS with relevant experience as per the typical experience requirements.
• Demonstrated expertise to support the Human Landing Systems (HLS) program navigation team at the level of a Subject Matter Expert.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively, possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Orbit Determination and Deep Space Navigation (Free Flyer, ODTK, MONTE, GMAT, Linear Covariance).
• Experience with Radar, LIDAR, IMU, accelerometer, rate gyro modeling, GPS, Terrain Relative Navigation, Kalman Filtering and sensor fusion.
• Programming skills and mentoring abilities are highly desired.

Skills

• Python, Fortran, C++ , Matlab & Simulink programming experience
• Familiarity with Linux, Bash, and the use of computational clusters/servers
• Experience configuring, conducting, and analyzing 6-DOF Monte Carlo simulations
• Experience supporting the design, integration, and analysis of GN&C products
• Experience working with GN&C leads and other engineering disciplines
• Experience supporting the verification and validation of technical products
• Experience preparing and presenting technical reports and briefings

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Roth 401(k) matching
• Retirement benefits
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance