Mid Career Spaceflight Hardware Propulsion Engineer

Mclaurin Aerospace • Houston, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Mclaurin is hiring a Mid Career Spaceflight Hardware Propulsion Engineer for its JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The engineer will support NASA deep-space exploration by applying engineering principles to propulsion and spacecraft pressure systems, performing and leading analyses, developing and validating models, and evaluating system architectures and technical trade studies.

The role supports propulsion hardware throughout its lifecycle, from concept and design through fabrication, assembly, testing, integration, certification, and operation. It includes reviewing designs, drawings, materials, manufacturing and assembly processes, test results, verification evidence, and flight-readiness documentation; investigating anomalies and nonconformances; and developing technically defensible recommendations for disposition and risk mitigation. The engineer will coordinate with NASA organizations, spacecraft teams, contractors, suppliers, and international partners, communicate technical status and risks, and may provide technical guidance and mentorship. Work may include mission simulations, vehicle checkouts, propulsion-console operations, and flight support, as well as travel to supplier, test, integration, launch, or program locations when required.

The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation. The employer describes Mclaurin as supporting research, publication, and engagement with the academic community, and encouraging employees to stay current in their disciplines.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• Normally 5–10 years of related experience.
• License and certification may be required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Working knowledge of heat transfer, engineering materials, mechanical systems, structures, or machine design.
• Experience analyzing propulsion, pressure, fluid, or thermal systems.
• Experience supporting hardware development, testing, integration, certification, or operation.
• Experience processing, analyzing, and interpreting engineering or test data.
• Ability to evaluate requirements, technical drawings, analyses, test plans, test results, and verification evidence.
• Ability to investigate technical issues and develop defensible engineering recommendations.
• Ability to assess component-level issues in a broader system and vehicle context.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize and coordinate multiple technical activities and priorities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate risks, uncertainties, and dissenting technical positions appropriately.
• Willingness and ability to transition among branch assignments as organizational needs change.
• Ability to work effectively in laboratory, supplier, integration, mission-operations, and office environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel when required by the assignment.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with spacecraft propulsion or aerospace pressure systems.
• Experience with human-rated spacecraft or other safety-critical flight systems.
• Experience with valves, regulators, tanks, filters, sensors, pressure vessels, tubing, and related mechanical hardware.
• Experience with component- or system-level test planning, execution, and data evaluation.
• Experience with acceptance, qualification, thermal-vacuum, vibration, or other environmental testing.
• Experience with flight-hardware integration and certification.
• Experience investigating anomalies, nonconformances, or unexpected test results.
• Experience preparing or evaluating hazard reports, variances, waivers, risks, changes, or certification packages.
• Experience overseeing suppliers, prime contractors, or sub-tier contractors.
• Experience with requirements development and verification.
• Knowledge of pressure-system safety, hardware cleanliness, and contamination-control requirements.
• Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, or comparable analysis tools.
• Experience with Thermal Desktop or comparable thermal-analysis software.
• Experience with CAD software, including Creo or a comparable platform.
• Experience with propulsion-console operations, mission simulations, vehicle checkouts, or flight support.
• Experience working with configuration-management, work-order, issue-tracking, or document-control systems.
• Experience developing small-spacecraft propulsion systems or rapid-turnaround flight hardware.
• Experience leading technical tasks or mentoring early-career engineers.

Responsibilities

• Apply fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials, structures, and machine-design principles to propulsion and spacecraft pressure systems.
• Independently perform or lead propulsion and pressure-system analyses.
• Develop, review, and validate fluid-flow, pressure-system, thermodynamic, and thermal models.
• Develop and maintain engineering analysis and data-processing tools using Python, MATLAB, or similar software.
• Evaluate system architectures and lead or contribute to technical trade studies.
• Establish technical assumptions, document analysis methods, and communicate results and limitations.
• Assess component-to-system and system-to-vehicle technical effects.
• Provide technical oversight of propulsion components, suppliers, and hardware-development activities.
• Review designs, drawings, material selections, fabrication methods, assembly processes, and acceptance criteria.
• Support or lead propulsion hardware development from concept through fabrication, assembly, test, integration, and operation.
• Plan, coordinate, witness, or evaluate component- and system-level tests.
• Review acceptance-test data, qualification reports, verification evidence, and flight-readiness documentation.
• Evaluate test results and determine whether available evidence satisfies technical and program requirements.
• Lead or support investigations of anomalies, nonconformances, and unexpected system behavior.
• Develop technically defensible recommendations for issue disposition and risk mitigation.
• Review and coordinate closure of variances, nonconformance reports, hazard reports, changes, waivers, reuse documentation, and certification action items.
• Develop verification approaches and support formal certification of propulsion systems and flight hardware.
• Assess pressure-system safety, cleanliness, contamination-control, and hardware-integration requirements.
• Support propulsion-system integration with spacecraft, test vehicles, or small satellites.
• Coordinate technical activities with NASA program and project offices, spacecraft organizations, suppliers, prime contractors, sub-tier contractors, and international partners.
• Organize and track concurrent document reviews, technical issues, risks, and action items.
• Delegate or coordinate reviews with appropriate hardware and technical points of contact.
• Prepare and present technical status, risks, nonconformances, and recommendations to program stakeholders.
• Participate in mission simulations, vehicle checkouts, propulsion console operations, and flight support.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to less-experienced engineers.
• Travel to supplier, test, integration, launch, or program locations when required.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous paid time off
• 401(k) after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance, if applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level