Mid Career Spaceflight Hardware Propulsion Engineer

Amentum•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mid Career Spaceflight Hardware Propulsion Engineer applies engineering principles to propulsion and spacecraft pressure systems, independently performing or leading analyses and developing, reviewing, and validating fluid-flow, pressure-system, thermodynamic, and thermal models. The engineer develops and maintains analysis and data-processing tools, evaluates system architectures and technical trade studies, documents assumptions and methods, and assesses effects across components, systems, and vehicles. The role provides technical oversight of propulsion components, suppliers, and hardware development. It includes reviewing designs, materials, fabrication and assembly processes, acceptance criteria, and verification evidence, and supporting hardware from concept through fabrication, testing, integration, certification, and operation. The engineer plans or evaluates tests, assesses results against technical and program requirements, and contributes to anomaly and nonconformance investigations and risk mitigation. The engineer coordinates technical work with NASA program and project offices, spacecraft organizations, contractors, suppliers, and international partners; tracks document reviews, issues, risks, and action items; and presents technical status and recommendations to stakeholders. The role may include mission simulations, vehicle checkouts, propulsion console operations, flight support, mentoring less-experienced engineers, and travel to supplier, test, integration, launch, or program locations as required. The position is advertised at multiple levels, with placement depending on candidate experience, requirements, and business needs. It normally requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 5–10 years of related experience; a license or certification may be required. The position is generally performed in an office, though work may also take place indoors or outdoors depending on the task. A 9/80 schedule applies when applicable. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may be required, and candidates must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Normally 5–10 years of related experience.
A license or 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 and collaborate 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.
Ability to work outside the normal schedule and adjust the schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements.
Regular attendance in accordance with the established work schedule.

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 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 engineering 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 and document technical assumptions, analysis methods, 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 test data, qualification reports, verification evidence, and flight-readiness documentation.
Evaluate whether test results and available evidence satisfy technical and program requirements.
Lead or support investigations of anomalies, nonconformances, and unexpected system behavior; develop 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; coordinate reviews with appropriate hardware and technical contacts.
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.