International Space Station (ISS) Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) Specialist

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors. 

The Human Exploration and Spaceflight (HESF) Sub-Division, within the NASA Programs Division (NPD) of CSG, maintains the company subject matter expertise for human spaceflight.  HESF supports NASA and its bold human exploration missions from the NASA Headquarters Mission Directorates to the Moon to Mars Office, down to every Artemis Program in operation.  We also support the International Space Station (ISS), Commercial LEO Development Program, Commercial Crew Program, Human Health & Performance. And the Gateway Program.  HESF support spans from architecture and mission design to technology development, requirements and design reviews, and finally to verification, safety, and on orbit operational reviews and concurrences. 

The ISS S&MA Specialist (Senior Project Engineer- Technical Project Management) will support the ISS Program Office’s In Space Production Applications (InSPA) efforts. InSPA is aimed at ensuring U.S. leadership of in-space manufacturing in low Earth orbit by enabling the use of the ISS National Laboratory to demonstrate the production of advanced materials and products for terrestrial markets.  

The selected candidate will be required to work part-time, on-site at our facility at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Providing S&MA expertise in assessing and evaluating experiment package designs for installation and operation onboard the ISS.  These duties include, but are not limited to: 
• Reviewing design and development of payloads or systems hardware for the ISS 
• Interpreting and reviewing drawing and/or design packages for a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and/or Critical Design Review (CDR) 
• Consulting on adapting existing technology to ISS 
• Leveraging expertise and understanding of the ISS Payload Safety Review Panel (SRP) 
• Identifying shortcomings in the safety plan and hazard reports, to reduce technical risk and increase mission success for complex InSPA payloads 
• Traveling to payload developer sites to assess/review flight hardware in development 
• Negotiating access to experimenters’ data and advising how to improve it, then reporting back In-SPA Leadership 
• Demonstrating and exercising unquestioned credibility and expertise as an independent FFRDC auditor without OCI  

What You Need to be Successful 

Minimum Requirements:   

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or another related STEM discipline 
• At least 10 years of ISS payload integration experience, including Safety Panel Reviews  
• A record of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment 
• Superior analytical, planning, problem solving, and decision-making skills  
• Ability to effectively utilize oral and written communication to express concepts and recommendations to personnel at all technical and managerial levels 
• Proven expertise and ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary setting, manage multiple concurrent tasks, and provide direction on competing priorities  
• Demonstrated ability to make timely, informed decisions and resolve conflicts in high-pressure environments. 
• Exemplary teaming and leadership skills with an ability to multi-task across various issues/disciplines simultaneously  
• Excellent presentation and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner.  
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally  
• This position may require ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• A master’s or advanced degree in a relevant field  
• Ten years of experience with NASA Programs  
• Experience performing or leading technical and programmatic tasks for NASA, especially Human Space Flight 

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max)

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.