Senior Operational Psychologist (Supporting NASA at Johnson Space Center)

KBR•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Operational Psychologist provides applied psychological services to NASA Johnson Space Center’s Space Medicine Operations Division, working within the Behavioral Health & Performance Operations group. The role supports ongoing ISS and Artemis missions, astronaut applicant screening and candidate training, and future human spaceflight and planetary missions. Services are provided to current and former astronauts, astronaut candidates and applicants, their families, and other mission-critical and ground-based personnel, in coordination with NASA Civil Service Operational Psychologists. The position supports operational environments including Low Earth Orbit, ISS and commercial programs, Moon Base and Artemis programs, the Human Research Program, and spaceflight analogs. It provides strategy and leadership for operational assessment projects that inform behavioral health and performance work. The psychologist collaborates with NASA customers and stakeholders across Space Medicine, Flight Operations, the Human Research Program, commercial and international partners, and external research and operations groups. The role is expected to be 100% onsite, with a minimum of 60% in person; occasional travel may be required. The successful candidate follows KBR safety, health, environmental, quality, and training requirements.

Requirements

PhD in Clinical Psychology from an APA-accredited program and completion of an APA-accredited internship; other areas of Applied Psychology may be considered depending on qualifications.
15 or more years of experience as an operational or military psychologist.
Licensed or license-eligible to practice psychology in Texas.
Experience identifying, addressing, and intervening in personal, family, environmental, and organizational issues.
Proficiency with MS Office and SPSS or R.
Intermediate to advanced clinical interviewing and psychodiagnostic skills.
Demonstrated ability to integrate and collaborate across scientific or operational disciplines.
Diplomacy, relationship-building, and communication skills.
Interpersonal effectiveness and professionalism in a collaborative, multidisciplinary, team-oriented environment.
Ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements.
Ability to complete tasks independently or as part of a team, meeting NASA customer standards with minimal direction.

Nice To Haves

Experience selecting, training, and supporting high-performing personnel.
Experience evaluating and supporting high-performing individuals in high-risk jobs and assessing applicants through tests, interviews, and behavioral scenarios.
Experience analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data and using statistical methods to develop data-driven solutions to operational problems.
Prior experience in high-tempo, high-risk operational environments such as military, aviation, spaceflight, or other mission-critical settings.
Experience selecting assessment tools to identify psychosocial, behavioral, and personality factors in candidates based on available psychometrics and research.
Broad understanding of behavioral health and performance outcomes that help individuals function effectively in extreme or dynamic operational environments.
Proven ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences, including operational personnel, families, management, international partners, scientists, medical professionals, and engineers.

Responsibilities

Support development and implementation of psychological screening tools and activities for astronaut applicants, and assess best practices for improving screening and selection methods.
Lead assessment of behavioral health and performance countermeasures addressing psychological and environmental factors that affect health, performance, and mission goals in spaceflight and analog environments.
Collaborate with the Human Research Program on operational review and assessment projects to address knowledge gaps, validate approaches, and refine countermeasures.
Consult on pre-flight psychological training and preparation for ISS and Artemis crewmembers and families; in-flight monitoring and support; implementation of in-flight monitoring and countermeasures; and post-flight repatriation and reintegration.
Provide behavioral health consultations to flight surgeons, managers, and key mission and analog personnel.
Provide subject matter expertise on behavioral health and performance training, monitoring, treatments, methodologies, technologies, and assessments.
Contribute to operational concepts for future NASA spaceflight missions, including Moon Base.
Maintain a learning liaison with government and private-sector operational psychologists who support spaceflight analogs.
Collaborate with and advise NASA and external research and operations groups and professionals, including ISS and Artemis international partners.
Assist the NASA BHP Operations Lead with duties that support efficient and effective operations and responses to requirements and directives.
Coordinate work with NASA Civil Service Operational Psychologists and stakeholders across NASA and partner organizations.
Comply with KBR’s Safety, Health and Environmental Plan, Quality Plan, safety policies and procedures, and assigned training.