Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I, II, or III

University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

73d • $70,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Center for Space Research (CSR) at the University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I, II, or III to support spaceflight engineering activities for various missions. The position involves working on the complete life-cycle of space missions, including mission design, flight dynamics, and science data analysis. The CSR team is engaged in significant scientific research from spaceborne platforms, contributing to understanding Earth through satellite data. This role offers an excellent opportunity for early career engineers to learn and contribute in a collegial environment.

Requirements

• RESA I: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• RESA II: Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field or BS and two years' experience in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• RESA III: MS and two years' experience in Aerospace Engineering or a related field, or BS and four years' experience in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Familiarity with space flight environment and spaceflight systems engineering.
• Strong foundation in aerospace systems and space flight dynamics.
• Ability to carry out spaceflight analysis, including relevant data analysis.
• Programming and data analytics skills.

Nice To Haves

• Strong verbal communication and teamwork skills.
• Technical writing skills.
• Analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Time-management skills to enable on-time project delivery.
• Ability to take the initiative and drive for results.
• Proficiency in systems engineering practices.
• Ability to analyze flight telemetry and housekeeping data.
• Proficiency in data analysis and programming (Python, MATLAB, FORTRAN, C++ or similar).
• Familiarity with database management systems, particularly TimescaleDB/PostgreSQL and/or MongoDB.
• Familiarity with visualization interfaces such as Grafana and Plotly.

Responsibilities

• Support spaceflight systems engineering activities, such as requirements development, interface definition, and verification & validation planning.
• Perform data analysis of flight telemetry and housekeeping data to monitor spacecraft health, evaluate system performance, and assess impacts of the space environment.
• Support the development of science data systems for upcoming missions, including data pipelines, analysis and visualization tools, quality analysis and quality control strategies.
• Conduct trade studies to evaluate alternative mission design approaches.
• Prepare clear technical reports, presentations, and briefings to communicate results, recommendations, and project status to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%).
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options.
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b).
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses.
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities.
• Tuition assistance.
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets.
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card.
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree