Senior Engineer - Spacecraft Mechanisms - Axient, LLC

Axient is seeking a Senior Engineer with expertise in spacecraft mechanisms including docking mechanisms, hatches, and pneumatic separation systems in support of the Gateway Deep Space Logistics (DSL) Program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This position will contribute to Insight, Surveillance, Systems Engineering, Analysis, and Mission Operations support services to the DSL Program. This position supports DSL related work to develop, integrate, and execute Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) missions to deliver cargo, payloads, or other Gateway elements to the Gateway in lunar orbit.

Duties & Responsibilities:  Responsibilities include systems engineering and integration activities related to management of mission requirements and verification with external customers, insight, surveillance, and mission activities directly related to specific GLS missions, but also and other DSL mission work.  Other specific responsibilities include:

• Evaluate the GLS Provider's design, analyses, testing, manufacturing, verification, validation, assembly, integration, checkout, and mission preparations for compliance with applicable Program/Project requirements.
  • Present evaluation results to DSL to assist with requirements verification closure and mission readiness determination for GLS missions.
  • Participate in DSL Engineering Review Boards (ERBs), Logistics Control Boards (LCBs), and other management or independent reviews to provide technical assessment of the GLS Provider’s compliance with the Program/Project requirements, requirements verification closure. and mission readiness determination for GLS missions.
  • Evaluate GLS Provider troubleshooting and resolution plans for hardware and software anomalies sustained during qualification and acceptance testing, spacecraft processing, or in-flight operations.
  • In the event of anomalies, provide independent evaluation of root cause, contributing causes, and recommended corrective actions. Track failure trends of components and investigate latent defects.
  • Support NASA-chaired Mishap Investigation Board (MIB) meetings in the event of a failed mission.
• Employ Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) expertise to:
  • Develop and create complex vehicle models
  • Simulate these models using relevant code
  • Modify or update analytical code as required
  • Understand GLS Provider tools and models such that input and output files can be reviewed efficiently and accurately.
• Assess DSL and GLS Provider spacecraft, ground systems, and associated engineering and analytical products throughout the life cycle for GLS missions and fleet activities.

The applicant should have extensive engineering experience in support of spacecraft development, testing, or operations and possess expertise in the following fields:

• Spacecraft docking systems, hatches and the associated NASA standards (NASA-STD-5017 and JSC 65828)
• Computation and validation of spacecraft structural static and dynamic loads and stress using in-house and commercial analytical tools
• High-frequency environment prediction for spacecraft
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and associated tools (e.g., NX™ Nastran®, FEMAP, MATLAB®, Mathcad, and ANSYS)
• Component design and assembly management using 3D CAD software
• Familiarity with common space and commercial specifications for materials (metallic and composite), processes, fasteners, mechanical components (actuators, bearings, gears etc.), connectors, and wiring
• Spacecraft pneumatic separation systems

Experience in the following areas is highly desired:

• NASA commercial launch vehicles and service providers (e.g., Commercial Crew or Commercial Cargo)
• The applicant should have the ability to work in a team environment consisting of NASA civil servants and various contractor employees and possess excellent oral and written communication skills.

Required Experience & Education: 

• BS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related STEM discipline and MA/MS in a relevant discipline.
• Applicant should have over 10 years of relevant experience.