Mission Certification Engineer 3 (Payloads-Mechanical Engineer)

United Launch Alliance•Cape Canaveral, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Payload Accommodations Mission Certification Engineer (MCE) serves as an engineering representative at ULA’s Cape Canaveral launch site, combining liaison and field engineering to help process and certify launch vehicles. The role bridges Launch Operations and the Design Center, removes obstacles to mission success, and ensures Design Center requirements are upheld. The MCE owns and assesses system and subsystem readiness, verifying hardware conformity and functional performance throughout launch processing. The position reports to the Launch Site Mission Certification Lead and works closely with Responsible Systems Engineers (RSEs) and Vehicle Systems Engineers (VSEs). The role is intended for launch vehicle mechanical engineers with experience in one or more areas including composite and metallic structural and mechanical components, integration of major structural assemblies, and thermal protection systems. The position is based at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, requires 10% travel, and relocation may be available. The role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance and involves ITAR-controlled information; applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in the posting. ULA describes a team-oriented culture that values ethics, ingenuity, engagement, and professional development. The company offers competitive pay and benefits, and most salaried team members work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. Benefits and schedules may vary for union-represented hourly positions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related STEM field from an accredited college or university.
At least 4 years of applicable experience in the associated technical areas listed in the posting.
Experience with issue resolution and cross-functional teams.
Ability to critically review inputs and identify missing or inconsistent information or data.
Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships, especially across geographic boundaries.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
Must be a U.S. Person as defined in the posting because the position involves ITAR-controlled information.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field from an accredited college or university.
Engineering Material Review Board (MRB) training or certification.
Previous experience supporting launch operations, vehicle processing, and/or launch certification.
Demonstrated ability to function as a Responsible Systems Engineer or Mission Certification Engineer for systems or subsystems of expertise.
Experience in high-reliability aerospace environments, including payload processing facilities or launch vehicle processing operations.
Practical experience fabricating, laying up, and assembling large carbon fiber composite parts.
Experience with non-destructive testing methods for composite structures.
Experience in clean room or contamination-sensitive production environments.
Active DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

Detect, diagnose, and resolve vehicle hardware non-conformances and performance anomalies.
Earn and maintain Material Review Board certification.
Earn and maintain a Mission Certification Engineer credential in assigned systems.
Visually inspect composite and metallic launch vehicle hardware for conformance to design requirements.
Review test data to verify that systems perform to specification and within family norms.
Ensure operations plans meet engineering intent.
Coordinate and execute design changes.
Coordinate engineering-significant anomalies with Responsible Systems Engineers, Authorized Systems Engineers, and Chief Engineers.
Identify and implement improvements to design, test, and operations processes.
Provide subject matter expertise on assigned systems to Launch Operations.
Use knowledge gained while embedded with Operations to advise Design Center personnel about operational realities.
Document and present risk posture and launch readiness status to Chief Engineers.
Support launches from the Engineering Support Area of the Launch Control Center as a member of the Day of Launch Anomaly Resolution Team.
Develop and maintain Engineering Walkdown Checklists, define requirements for close-out photos, and approve close-out photos taken by Launch Operations.