Orion Thermal Protection System Engineer

Barrios Technology HQ•Houston, TX

About The Position

Are 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. As NASA’s largest engineering solutions provider working together with NASA at centers across the United States. We have an exciting opportunity for a Orion Thermal Protection System (TPS) Engineer to join the team with Barrios, a teammate company. Building on more than four decades of experience in providing innovative integration solutions for government and commercial space programs, Barrios offers an extensive range of engineering, software, and related technology integration services in support of the aerospace community. As a woman-owned and operated small business, we are a people-focused company that supports professional development, while working to ensure that you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Barrios employees actively participate in the growth of the commercial spaceflight industry through our partnerships with companies leading commercial space development, as well as successfully supporting NASA as our primary government customer. Our long history supporting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on the International Space Station, and now Commercial LEO, lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon through our work on Orion, Gateway, and the Space Launch System. We are seeking a highly experienced aerospace engineer to provide subsystem management and technical leadership for the certification, testing, and build of the Orion Heatshield. This role acts as an agency-level expert in spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and testing. The position requires deep expertise in heat transfer, thermal protection systems, and spacecraft certification processes. We are actively searching for qualified candidates for this potential opening; however, we do not have assurance at this time when the position will be finalized and opened. Because we have strong reason to believe the position will be approved soon, we are proceeding with identifying qualified candidates and conducting interviews.

Requirements

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
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
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
Other duties as assigned
Must be a U.S. Citizen and successfully complete a U.S. government background investigation
Post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol as outlined in our Drug Free Workplace policy
Work may involve sitting for extended periods
May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs
Must have sufficient mobility to enter areas of test facilities where necessary
Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on task
Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, fax, etc.)
Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical
Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements when required
Must be able to work in a team atmosphere
Must put forward a professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation
Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others
This position may require some commuting and traveling to other installations as needed

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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