Mechanical Engineer (NASA Sounding Rocket Program)

NASA’s Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC) is a sub-orbital space flight program located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), a part of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). NSROC provides suborbital launch vehicles, payload development and field operations support to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The program enables the collection of Earth, Heliophysics and Astrophysics science.

The Mechanical Engineer will be a team member using principles of mechanical engineering, a solid modeler, and analysis packages; develop, design, analyze, test, and document sounding rocket payload systems, sub-systems, and GSE systems in support of the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC).

Responsibilities of the position: 

• Research, develop, design, and analyze sounding rocket mechanical structures, components, and equipment applying principles and techniques of mechanical engineering to fulfill mission requirements.
• Work with SolidWorks and SolidWorks Simulation for design and analysis efforts.
• Manage Mass Properties and Gravimetrics of concepts, designs, and actual measurements of flight hardware.
• Create Design and Manufacturing Documentation with SolidWorks
• Submit documentation to Production and provide oversight of fabrication in NSROC Machine Shop and provide assembly drawings and procedures to Mechanical Technicians staff.
• Direct and coordinate activities involved in assembly, operation, problem resolution, and repair of sounding rocket mechanical structures and systems; and create required processes and procedures.
• Coordinate with NSROC Environmental Test Lab for testing of sounding rocket components, subassemblies, and full payloads which includes test plans and loads, oversight of testing, validation of new designs, and interpreting results.
• Create documentation for design and testing, and present to a panel of peers and customers for review.
• Serve as lead mechanical engineer for sounding rocket missions and other program or project efforts.
• Brief customers on technical development projects and negotiate design modification if needed.
• May be responsible for cost and schedule requirements.
• Provide support for field operations when needed.
• Balance workload of numerous simultaneous projects & missions at different levels of development, (design, fabrication, testing, etc)
• Management of mechanical engineering assignments, and the development of new products and engineering specifications for applicable projects.
• Provide guidance to less experienced engineers and contribute to overarching program and department technical discussions
• Travel may occasionally be 2-3 weeks per year.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Math, or Physics. (Preferable a Mechanical degree)
• Two to four years of related experience.
• Working knowledge of SolidWorks and SolidWorks Simulation or similar design and analysis tools.
• Must be a US Citizen and ability to obtain a NASA PIV badge