Thermography Engineer- Non-destructive Evaluation (ES3-ES5)

About the role

The Non-Destructive Evaluation and Damage Tolerance Group serving the Non-Destructive Evaluation and Damage Tolerance Branch (EM21) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, AL has an opening for an Engineer in Thermography inspection and testing on the Non-destructive Evaluation (NDE) team.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate execution of NDE related project tasks leveraging knowledge of structural material property, compatibility, processing, and non-destructive evaluation techniques to develop and provide test data to space flight hardware design teams, design reviews, problem resolution teams, and material usage review teams.
• Operate and maintain NDE testing equipment, such as thermography equipment: thermal wave imaging systems, infrared cameras, including troubleshoot equipment/ system problems, identify corrective actions, and implement corrective actions upon approval.
• Maintain training and certifications in the areas of NDE technique specialty; A NAS-410 or ASNT level II, or level III, certification in thermography. Train and gain expertise in other NDE evaluations techniques in addition to thermography, such as in radiography (RT), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (UT), Phased Array UT (PAUT), eddy current (ET), penetrant testing (PT), and magnetic particle testing (MT) systems.
• Contribute to research & development activities to improve MSFC’s NDE capabilities.
• Operate in the customer’s Engineering Work System to understand assignments and priorities for development and execution of NDE activities.
• Conduct of a wide array of experiments using various techniques including thermography, and/or RT, CT, PAUT, ET, PT, and MT in both fixed facility and remote locations.
• Investigate anomalies and develop alternative solutions to problems.
• Implement rigorous work planning and control processes to assure safe, secure, and high-quality operations and results.
• Develop and work according to standard operating instructions and safety procedures.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to achieve project success and delivery in a specified timescale.
• Aid in planning the modification of existing laboratory test plans and the design and operation of new plans related to NDE evaluation tasks.
• Utilize computers and computer software daily to generate reports, gather data and communicate test results.
• An individual with experience with engineering software such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) is desired.
• Interface with Engineering and Science Services Capabilities Augmentation (ESSCA) engineers, ESSCA technicians, and NASA customers as part of their daily duties.

Qualifications

• BS minimum requirement in Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace Engineering or related STEM field from an accredited school of engineering.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience.
• A NAS-410 or ASNT level II certification in thermography. Level III is preferred.
• A demonstrated ability to adapt to changing environments of technology development.
• A track record of continued technical growth, such as improving thermography skills, or gaining skills in other NDE techniques.
• A demonstrated ability to work in team environments with other technicians and engineers, providing ideas and recommendations on improving testing/processing, operation and maintenance of the test equipment.

Desired Experience

• Strong technical capabilities in NDE methods in thermography inspections and testing.
• Certifications as a NAS-410 or ASNT level II or III in thermography, and the ability to provide hands-on support in thermography; and secondarily in other NDE methods such as RT, CT, PAUT, ET, PT, and MT.
• Working knowledge and experience with thermal wave imaging systems.
• Working knowledge and experience with robotic inspection systems.
• The ability to independently troubleshoot NDE equipment/systems: such as infrared cameras, thermal wave imaging systems, amongst other supportive technologies, identify necessary corrective actions, and implement corrective actions upon approval.
• Proficiency with computers and applicable software such as CAD to gather, store, and recall test data, as well as to communicate testing results and reports.
• The ability to communicate work, test status, test results, problems, and proposed actions with engineers, customers, and government representatives both verbally and in writing.
• The ability to thoroughly document findings and actions is essential to being successful in the role.
• Hands-on NDE experience conducting a wide array of experiments using thermography; secondary experience with NDE techniques including ultrasound, eddy current, penetrant, magnetic particle, and radiography in both fixed facility and remote locations.
• Certification in Thermography as a NAS-410 or ASNT NDE, LII, or preferably LIII.
• Previous experience or certification in NDE methods in areas such radiographic testing, computed tomography, phased array ultrasonics, infrared testing, and liquid penetrant testing.
• Executing Research & Development and customer driven Engineering Work System assignments pertaining to efforts in the development and execution of novel NDE diagnostics.
• Process data using various software systems.
• Installing, operating, and maintaining laboratory equipment including instrumentation and data acquisition systems and software.
• Conceptualizing and communicating major elements of experimental design and results to stakeholders.
• Serving as an NDE Lab representative on multi-discipline engineering teams to understand and resolve anomalies with aerospace flight hardware.
• Investigating anomalies and implementing alternative solutions to problems, with Senior NDE Engineering team.
• Writing operating procedures, analysis methods, and laboratory procedures.
• Implementing rigorous work planning and control processes to assure safe, secure, and high-quality operations and results.