Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Oversight Software Engineer

Mclaurin Aerospace • Houston, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, supporting NASA’s deep-space exploration pursuits. The role oversees and assesses visiting-vehicle rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) systems for program compliance and safety. Work collaboratively with engineering, safety, flight operations, crew office, visiting-vehicle providers, NASA civil servants, and contractor employees. The position is advertised at multiple levels, with level determined by experience, requirements, and business needs. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• Typically 2–5 years of experience in the field or a related area.
• Experience with orbital mechanics and GN&C principles.
• Understanding of orbit, entry, descent, and landing GN&C principles.
• Knowledge of GN&C algorithm development and spacecraft system analysis.
• Experience designing, verifying, testing, and operating GN&C hardware and software.
• Experience developing space-system requirements and documents.
• Experience with Linux, Python, and C/C++.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective performance on a collaborative engineering team.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and schedules with limited supervision.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment with NASA civil servants and contractor employees.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering focused on GN&C, flight controls, and orbital mechanics.
• Experience with spacecraft rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture/docking.
• Familiarity with spacecraft docking systems.
• Working knowledge of NASA, JSC, and ISS standard practices and requirements, including safety.
• Experience with NASA flight operations and procedures.
• Familiarity with NASA/JSC documentation databases and SharePoint sites.
• Experience with MATLAB and Simulink toolboxes.
• Experience with the NASA Trick simulation architecture and JEOD (JSC Engineering Orbital Dynamics).

Responsibilities

• Certify GN&C system requirements compliance by reviewing analysis and test reports, including assessments of sensor performance, trajectory dispersions, and other GN&C parameters.
• Certify fault-tolerance safety requirements compliance by reviewing GN&C-related hazard reports and verification evidence, and communicate issues to a Safety Review Panel.
• Identify and recommend solutions to GN&C/RPO performance issues.
• Communicate the status of compliance reviews to ISS program management.
• Conduct performance assessments of visiting-vehicle GN&C data for program compliance.
• Review Monte Carlo trajectory analyses using independent six-degrees-of-freedom simulations.
• Provide input to operational products, including flight rules and on-orbit demonstration plans.
• Provide visiting-vehicle GN&C mission-console support during real-time ground monitoring.
• Maintain working relationships with technical personnel across engineering, safety, flight operations, the crew office, and visiting-vehicle providers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous paid time off
• 401(k) after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance, if applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level