Softgood Engineering Technologist

Mclaurin Aerospace•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

McLaurin is hiring a Softgood Engineering Technologist to join its JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The position supports NASA’s deep-space exploration work and the Advanced Suit Team by designing, developing, fabricating, and testing functional softgoods for advanced exploration spacesuits and ancillary support items. The role calls for strong technical proficiency, careful craftsmanship, clear communication, initiative, and collaboration with engineers, technicians, and designers. It also involves documenting design work and fabrication processes, maintaining and modifying equipment, keeping lab spaces organized, and occasionally traveling to other NASA centers or contractors for fabrication and installation. The role includes physical work such as lifting and transporting materials and equipment and working in confined spaces or on stairs, steps, and ladders. The position is advertised at multiple levels; candidates may be considered at any advertised level based on their experience, qualifications, and business needs. Typical qualifications include a high school diploma and five years of experience, or a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology or a related field. U.S. citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation are required.

Requirements

Typically, a high school diploma and five years of experience, or a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology or a related field.
Experience in a softgoods development lab, with an emphasis on softgoods design and fabrication.
Ability to independently devise solutions to complex design challenges and solicit input from other technical experts.
Expertise in hands-on fabrication techniques and sewing processes, including sewing machines, laser cutters, fabric welders, 3D printers, bandsaws, drills, and hand tools.
Demonstrated success working with a cross-disciplinary team.
Proficiency with CAD programs and software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience with Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, and Rhino 8.
U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation.

Nice To Haves

A BA, BFA, or BS in Industrial Design, Apparel Design, or equivalent.
Experience with aerospace product design processes, including reading, understanding, and creating fabrication drawings.
Experience with fabrication processes for softgoods product prototyping.
Familiarity with softgoods article and textiles testing procedures.
Additional experience in manufacturing, testing, or design processes that could support development of advanced spacesuit technologies.
Understanding of the characteristics and properties of advanced space-grade textiles and other materials.
Familiarity with NASA/JSC Softgoods design and development and JETS Engineering Life Cycle processes.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, fabricate, and support testing of functional softgoods articles for advanced exploration spacesuits and ancillary support items.
Work with high technical proficiency and detailed attention to craftsmanship and presentation.
Collaborate and communicate with engineers, technicians, and designers to understand requirements for suited space systems and hardware.
Clearly present design concepts and considerations.
Take ownership of design tasks and show initiative in completing projects.
Maintain, repair, and custom-modify machines for unique operations as required.
Create patterns and mockups to verify the fit and function of softgoods articles.
Interpret fabrication drawings to assemble sewn products and other softgoods.
Document new design work and clearly define processes and techniques.
Seek new manufacturing techniques and innovative materials.
Keep lab spaces clean, organized, and well maintained.
Occasionally travel to other NASA centers or contractors to perform softgoods fabrication and installation.
Lift and transport materials and equipment, and work in confined spaces and on stairs, steps, and ladders.
Perform other duties as required.