Aerospace Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Houston, TX

1d•$86,900 - $198,000•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for someone to join the Booz Allen Space Environments Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Team. The team supports clients by tackling the challenges of lunar dust contamination of spacecraft and other assets by modeling the complex interactions between dust particles, the space environment, and spacecraft. To do so, they develop and use advanced computational modeling tools and techniques. Join the team as they develop a comprehensive modeling and analysis framework on lunar surface programs to characterize the risks lunar dust poses to the success of a permanent human presence on the Moon. As an Aerospace Engineer on the team, you will be responsible for development of advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based Plume-surface interaction (PSI) modeling capabilities, spanning continuum–rarefied plume flow fields, gas–granular coupling, erosion or cratering physics, and ejecta transport. As a senior engineer, you will architect and implement computational approaches, guide V&V strategy, integrate PSI predictions into customer lunar architecture decisions, and mentor junior staff. If you want to solve real-world challenges and lead mission-critical engineering related to humanity's return to the Moon, there’s a place for you here. At Booz Allen, you’ll make a difference with us, and, in return, we’ll invest in your future. This position is located in Houston, TX.

Requirements

6+ years of experience with modeling and simulation involving rarefied gas dynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for compressible, high-speed, chemically reacting flows, and direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC)
Experience developing granular flow simulation frameworks with preferred applications to plume-surface interactions (PSI)
Experience developing and maintaining software to implement analytical and computational models
Experience programming in Python or C++ and with CAD and 3D modeling software such as Solidworks or NX
Experience with data processing and statistical techniques
Experience with FEA, CFD, or tools such as STAR-CCM+, Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Thermal Desktop, or Loci-Chem
Experience writing technical documentation or scientific publications
Knowledge of modeling chemically reacting flows
Ability to take ownership of assigned tasks, work in both a team and independent environment, and to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders
Master’s degree in Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or Computational Physics

Nice To Haves

Experience implementing PSI capabilities or contributing to HLS or CLPS analyses
Experience with NASA or MSFC validation datasets and toolchain
Experience with PSI toolchain components, including Loci/CHEM, Loci/CHEM‑Boltzmann, Loci/GGFS, DIGGEM, DTA, FUN3D, and OpenFOAM variants relevant to PSI
Experience with modeling and simulation with discrete element method (DEM) and granular flow physics using DEM frameworks such as LAMMPS or CFDEMcoupling
Experience with modeling plasma and dust-plasma coupling
Experience applying machine learning (ML) to solve engineering problems with modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch or Tensorflow
Experience developing simulations using NVIDIA Warp and CUDA Python and working with Linux environments
Experience producing original research and publications in CFD, PSI, or multiphase or rarefied gas dynamics
Experience working with U.S. government clients such as NASA
Doctorate degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or a related field

Responsibilities

Development of advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based Plume-surface interaction (PSI) modeling capabilities, spanning continuum–rarefied plume flow fields, gas–granular coupling, erosion or cratering physics, and ejecta transport.
Architect and implement computational approaches.
Guide V&V strategy.
Integrate PSI predictions into customer lunar architecture decisions.
Mentor junior staff.