Orion Thermal Protection System (TPS) Engineer
Mclaurin AerospaceAre you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!
We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to 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. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Orion Thermal Protection System (TPS) Engineer to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.
If selected you will:
- Lead subsystem management for the Orion Heatshield, including certification planning, testing, and build oversight.
- Oversee the development of thermal models, stress analyses, and test techniques to ensure successful heatshield certification.
- Evaluate proposed designs and specifications for Avcoat blocks, identifying deficiencies and recommending alternative approaches to meet technical and safety requirements.
- Direct thermal analysis and test efforts performed by NASA civil servants and contractors across multiple centers.
- Assess all heatshield related hardware designs and supporting data at critical design and hardware acceptance reviews.
- Coordinate material property testing to support thermal and mechanical model development, delivering ablative thermal material models to Lockheed Martin for thermal sizing.
- Define and manage test plans for arc jet and radiant heatshield test programs.
- Provide on-site technical expertise for block bonding and gap filling operations at Kennedy Space Center.
- Compile certification evidence, track verification completion, and develop certification of flight readiness statements.
- Provides status and update reports to the Organization Chief and to Directorate management.
- Provide technical authority and consultation on Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) system design, testing, and analysis to programs across NASA.
- Develop strategies for advancing EDL technologies for current and future exploration spacecraft.
- Lead technical meetings, represent the organization at conferences, and build partnerships with industry, government agencies, and universities.
- Mentor junior engineers, interns, and academic researchers in EDL systems analysis and testing.
- Advise management on priorities, feasibility, and risks of EDL technology development projects.
- Propose and develop innovative concepts in collaboration with industry and government partners to advance state-of-the-art EDL technology.
Qualifications:
This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.
- Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5-10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.
- BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited engineering school.
- Minimum of 5 years of engineering analysis experience related to thermal control systems.
- Experience working with complex, vehicle level models with multiple system interactions
- Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to use data to draw conclusions and - support the conclusions when challenged.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with developing and reviewing simulation models of spacecraft hardware and systems at varying levels of fidelity ranging from detailed, first-principal - models to more descriptive lumped-parameter models.
- Experience with flight hardware test plan development and execution.
- Experience with requirements definition and validation of space flight hardware.
- Knowledge of programming in one or more of the following: Python or MATLAB
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- Positive work-life balance
- 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
- 11 paid holidays annually
- Generous PTO
- 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
- Education assistance
- Relocation assistance (if applicable)
Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.
US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.
Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.