Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer

SAIC - Chantilly, VA

Full-time - Mid Level

Chantilly, VA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

As a Propulsion Systems Engineer at SAIC, you will provide systems engineering and technical assistance within a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Government Program Office, focusing on the manufacturing, integration, and testing of spacecraft propulsion subsystems. This role involves collaboration with government leads and spacecraft developers, ensuring compliance with requirements and performance standards throughout the spacecraft's design and development phases.

Responsibilities

• Work in an interactive team environment with Government customer leads, spacecraft developers, and other subject matter experts.
• Apply engineering knowledge to support manufacture, integration, and test of propulsion subsystems and components.
• Confirm requirements verification by evaluating unit, subsystem, and vehicle performance and environmental test data, analysis, and inspection results.
• Assess spacecraft subsystem technical performance within cost and schedule constraints, identifying risks to program plans and schedules, and supporting development of corrective action plans.
• Participate in Failure Review Boards (FRBs) to troubleshoot and resolve anomalies and test failures, developing mitigation plans and identifying impacts to subsystems and spacecraft performance.
• Assist in requirements development, supporting requirements flow-down and traceability, and ensuring compliance to interfaces and standards or appropriate deviations/waivers are in place.
• Evaluate system, subsystem and unit level design to determine if the design is adequate to meet program requirements and cost effective.

Requirements

• BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, or similar technical discipline.
• 5 or more years of engineering experience with propulsion subsystems.
• Experience working in a spacecraft system program office (SPO) or a satellite development facility.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Nice-to-haves

• MS in Engineering.
• 7 or more years of engineering experience with propulsion subsystems and spacecraft bus systems.
• Experience with multiple spacecraft programs and a variety of satellite busses.
• Experience with early life-cycle satellite engineering activities/milestones, spacecraft integration and test, and Launch and Initialization (L&I) activities.

Benefits

• Ongoing application acceptance with no deadline for submissions.