Propulsion Engineer -Aerospace Engineering (NASA Sounding Rocket Program)

$104,000 - $166,000/Yr

Peraton - Chincoteague, VA

Full-time

Chincoteague, VA

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

About the position

The Propulsion Engineer position at NASA's Sounding Rocket Program involves working on suborbital space flight missions, focusing on the design, testing, and support of launch vehicle systems. The role requires collaboration within a team and individual contributions to mechanical design and testing of rocket components, ensuring the successful execution of sounding rocket missions.

Responsibilities

• Support sub-orbital rocket launches by engineering vehicle systems and flight termination systems.
• Analyze solid rocket motor dynamics.
• Develop and revise procedures and processes related to hazardous operations involving pyrotechnic devices, ordnance, and solid rocket motors.
• Operate sounding rocket vehicle systems ground support equipment (GSE) during payload integration and testing, launch operations, and throughout suborbital flight.
• Perform launch vehicle hardware & software system and subsystem level integration, test, and launch operation in a fast-paced team environment.
• Troubleshoot, document, and disposition flight and test equipment hardware and software discrepancies, pursuing root cause and corrective actions.
• Execute and review integration and test work packages.
• Conduct hazardous testing involving pyrotechnics.
• Produce and present technical material in support of internal and external customer meetings.
• Contribute to the development of new engineering products or specialty products, and specifications.
• Participate in technical interchange discussions with customers and experimenters.
• Manage activities required to meet the objectives of assigned design and development projects.
• Support the integration of, and transition to new hardware and software systems, generating related documentation.
• Serve as cognizant engineer for launch vehicles on NASA sounding rocket missions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) such as Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science Engineering.
• High mechanical and electrical aptitude.
• Ability to read, interpret, and implement technical drawings (electrical/mechanical), specifications, and procedures.
• Five years of engineering experience.
• Knowledge of test instrumentation including Power Supplies, DMMs, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers, vibration tables, strength and bend testing, etc.
• An understanding of basic static and dynamic analysis related to flight structures.
• Understanding of rocket motor dynamics.
• Ability to obtain a public trust.

Nice-to-haves

• BS/MS in Fluid Mechanics, Chemical Engineering, or Chemistry.
• Experience in Solid Rocket Motor Design and Analysis.
• Experience with Solid Performance Prediction (SPP) dynamic motor analysis.
• Knowledge of solid rocket propellant formulation and manufacturing/design.
• Experience with solid rocket propellant grain inspection and testing/instrumentation/static fire.
• Experience in Hazardous Operation Procedure Creation and Rocket Motor Hazard Classification.
• Familiarity with MATLAB data analysis.
• Knowledge of electronic and mechanical test equipment.
• Experience with ordnance systems involving solid rocket motors, initiators/igniters.
• Understanding of environmental test requirements and interpretation of test results for mechanical shock, random vibration, sine vibration, and acceleration.
• Familiarity with hazardous operations and procedures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $104,000 - $166,000 based on experience and other factors.