Senior Engineering Specialist
About The Position
The Senior Engineering Specialist will work in the Physical Sciences Laboratories’ Energy Technology Department (ETD), which conducts research and provides technical assistance on spacecraft solar cells, solar arrays, and battery and energy-storage technology. The role leads and coordinates research activities and program deliverables that address national security space customer needs across the enterprise. It also supports adoption of new energy technologies, tools, and prototypes and helps space programs respond to changing acquisition requirements, operating environments, and challenges. The specialist leads and supports research and development projects to reduce risk and enable rapid technology transition; develops future spacecraft solar-cell and array technology roadmaps; assesses technical issues and risks in the development, testing, and fielding of next-generation technologies; and designs experiments and analyzes their results. The role also develops computational modeling tools, communicates technical findings and provides consultation, mentors junior staff, may lead project teams, and provides technical leadership across organizational teams. Additional work includes preparing proposals for R&D funding and representing the organization in technical meetings, presentations, and symposia. The position is full-time and requires working on-site at the El Segundo, California facility, with approximately 10% travel.
Requirements
- B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in a STEM field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Typically 8 or more years of experience conducting opto-electronic materials research, device-physics characterization, space-environment materials evaluation, or modeling, with increasingly responsible related scientific or engineering experience.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers, government program offices, and contractors.
- A high level of innovation, creativity, and initiative, with broad recognition among peers, management, program offices, and government customers.
- Experience managing a project and working with or leading junior staff, including distributing and monitoring tasks, planning budgets, and providing regular progress updates.
- Ability to mentor, motivate, and serve as a role model to less experienced staff.
- Ability to identify perceived technical problems proactively and recommend courses of action.
- Willingness to travel approximately 10% of the time.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain the clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Experience investigating radiation and space-environment effects in materials such as semiconductors, solar-array modules, and other power-generation technologies.
- Current TS/SCI clearance.
- Experience coordinating research activities and projects in support of space programs across the enterprise.
- Experience developing advanced characterization techniques for space systems.
- Strong background in analyzing and exploiting large datasets, including data management and applying AI/ML techniques to device-characterization or test data.
- Experience using a programming or processing language such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or LabVIEW to implement solutions to device-characterization problems.
- Experience preparing technical proposals or securing research funding, and/or maintaining liaison relationships.
Responsibilities
- Lead and support R&D projects to reduce risk and enable rapid technology transition.
- Develop future spacecraft solar-cell and solar-array technology roadmaps.
- Provide technical assessments of issues and risks related to development, testing, and fielding of next-generation space solar-cell and array technology.
- Design and conduct experiments using the scientific method, lead or work with teams of scientists and engineers, and analyze resulting data.
- Build computational modeling tools for research areas related to space solar cells and arrays.
- Communicate technical findings and provide consultation to department colleagues, Aerospace management, program offices, government customers, and the scientific community.
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers and provide technical guidance and development insight.
- Lead project teams within the department as needed and serve as a technical point of contact across multiple programs.
- Provide technical authority and leadership across cross-organizational teams.
- Prepare technical proposals to secure internal or external R&D funding.
- Maintain authoritative connections with national laboratories, technical centers, and industry, representing the organization at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
- 401(k) plan with company-paid contributions based on years of service and matching contributions
- Flexible spending accounts
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
- Relocation assistance
- Professional growth and development programs
- Education assistance programs
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
