Senior Research Associate: Aerospace Engineering

SJSU Research Foundation

21h • $190,000 - $220,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychology Department at San Jose State University is involved in collaborative research efforts with civil service scientists from the U.S. Army’s Technology Development Directorate (TDD) Research Group at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. This is a senior-level engineering position with TDD focused on Flight Test, Flight Controls and Autonomy as it relates to the Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) and Contested Logistics (CL) modernization priorities. The work is centered on research and development efforts of rotorcraft flight control technologies and operations for both manned and unmanned systems and optionally piloted air-vehicles.

Requirements

• MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field required.
• Education in the following areas: Numerical analysis and statistical methods, flight dynamics and control; aircraft simulation; classical and optimal control; linear control theory.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work on collaborative teams or independently.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research.
• General knowledge of flight control and fixed/rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aerial system (UAS) controls.
• Demonstrated strong competency in MATLAB, Simulink, Python, and/or C/C++.
• Experience conducting design reviews, peer reviews and technical meetings.
• Must be willing to travel domestically and internationally.
• Located at the NASA Ames Research Center.
• Employee must meet security qualifications for entrance to Ames Research Center.
• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Frequent and ongoing use of a computer terminal to conduct a variety of the more advanced clerical functions and communications.
• Periodic, regular, and/or occasional contact with employees of the Research Foundation at all levels, San Jose State University faculty and staff, and/or vendors, with the ability to discuss and appropriately respond to inquiries and requests.
• Work with time constraints and under pressure.
• Periodic regular lifting, walking, and carrying of files, documents and other related materials.
• Strength, dexterity, and coordination and/or ability to use a computer keyboard and read a video display terminal on a regular basis.
• Ability to listen to verbal requests from customers, clients, and vendors, and to respond appropriately.
• A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the SJSURF.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an applied research setting is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Perform research and development in the areas of flight controls, handling qualities, and autonomy for manned and unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
• Provide subject matter expertise to program offices and industry partners in the aforementioned technical areas.
• Perform as the flight test engineer for flight controls research and development of the UH-60M RASCAL X test aircraft to include conducting simulation and flight tests with the ADOCS++ control laws; collecting system identification data; and completing full flight envelope block diagrams.
• Perform as the principal investigator for the Advanced Rotorcraft Configurations Testing of Increased Capabilities (ARCTIC) simulations in the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS).
• Support the Rotorcraft In-Flight Laboratory (RIFL) team with the development, validation and flight testing of the new RASCAL X Vehicle Mission Management Computer (VMMC); development, validation, and flight testing of partial authority flight control and Mission Adaptive Autonomy (MAA) on the EH-60L aircraft; and development, integration, and demonstration of MAA on the CH-47.
• Work with the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Program Office to review flight control, handling qualities, and flight test efforts.
• Participate in FLRAA design reviews and keep abreast of flight test plans for the FLRAA aircraft.
• Serve as subject matter expert on safety of flight review boards for the RASCAL X, EH-60L and UH-60M MATRIX.
• Oversee and manage the Army’s RASCAL X and EH-60L System Integration Laboratories at Ames.
• Attain proficiency with Army’s flight control and system identification tools, including CIFER, CONDUIT, and RIPTIDE.
• Provide technical support to the Technical Project Officers on the international Project Agreements with Canada, France and Germany.
• Communicate research results through technical presentations and written reports.
• Mentor junior engineers, transfer knowledge, and help ensure continuity of branch operations.
• Provide technical support to the Technology Area Lead (TAL) for the flight controls/handling qualities technology area.

Benefits

• Four company health insurance plans to choose from (employee contributions differ according to plan and level of coverage).
• Employer-paid dental and vision for both employee and eligible dependents.
• Life, AD&D, LTD with supplemental coverage opportunities.
• 14 paid federal & state holidays.
• Retirement Plan: 403 (b) employee contribution plan component and a 403 (b) employer contribution component, which vests immediately.
• Vacation-hour accruals and separate sick-hour accumulations.
• Employee discounts.
• Paid training and professional-development conferences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees