Project Engineer

About the role

This position is based at the Frederica, Delaware manufacturing facility and directly supports the development, assembly, integration, testing, and sustainment of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit systems, with a primary focus on the Space Suit Assembly (SSA) in support of NASA programs. The Project Engineer plays a key role in managing the full hardware lifecycle—from design release through fabrication, production, verification, and delivery—ensuring alignment with NASA requirements and strict adherence to human spaceflight safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and monitor EVA spacesuit hardware projects from design release through production, integration, and delivery.
• Serve as a liaison between engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment on production priorities, requirements, and schedules.
• Support execution of spacesuit assembly and integration activities at the Frederica site, ensuring readiness for build, test, and delivery.
• Ensure hardware fabrication and production efforts are completed on schedule and within budget constraints.
• Gather and manage technical, manufacturing, and program data to support requirements definition, build readiness, and production execution.
• Lead hardware failure investigations for spacesuit components and assemblies; facilitate root cause analysis (RCA) and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) across engineering and factory operations.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with program managers and stakeholders regarding risks, issues, and impacts to cost, schedule, or technical performance.
• Interface with NASA customers to communicate project status, technical progress, risks, and key milestones through formal reviews, reports, and coordination meetings.
• Support integration, test, and verification activities for EVA hardware, ensuring compliance with NASA program requirements and certification standards.
• Assist with transition of hardware from development into production, including coordination of build plans, work instructions, and configuration control.
• Support project planning activities across proposal, contract execution, and program lifecycle phases for EVA spacesuit programs.
• Conduct routine tasks as directed in support of EVA program execution.

Qualifications

• Must be able to access shared government program databases (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident).
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.

Core Competencies

• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, or product development environment preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Interest in project management and product development (PMP or CAPM a plus).
• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of project management methodologies and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
• Strong collaboration, problem-solving skills, and ability to work effectively in team environments (including navigating constructive conflict).
• Experience with hardware development lifecycle including design, build, test, and qualification phases.
• Experience supporting or participating in hardware failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation preferred.

Travel & Work Arrangements/Requirements: Fully site based in Frederica, DE. Availability to travel up to 25% of the time (e.g., customer visits, training at our technical centers, trade shows, etc.). While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather); fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.