Aerospace Engineer, AST, Aerospace Flight Systems (Direct Hire)

Aerospace Engineer, AST, Aerospace Flight Systems (Direct Hire)

Department: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Location(s): Huntsville, Alabama

Salary Range: $154075 - $197200 Per Year

Job Summary: Marshall Space Flight Center seeks Aerospace Engineers to lead and support critical NASA missions. This role provides technical and program leadership across space and flight systems, including vehicles, propulsion, payloads, and integrated hardware/software, supporting design, development, testing, certification, and mission operations.

Major Duties:

• Leads program and project management for complex space and aeronautical systems, vehicles, propulsion systems and payloads, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Directs multidisciplinary engineering functions including planning, research, design, development, testing, evaluation, and cost analysis across aerospace systems and programs.
• Provides technical authority in analyzing and evaluating aerospace vehicles, environments, structures, and components across design, production, operation, certification, and sustainment phases.
• Oversees testing, validation, and certification of flight hardware and systems to ensure compliance with design, operational, and safety requirements.
• Leads the design, integration, verification, and operational implementation of aerospace hardware and software systems across program lifecycles.
• Evaluates system performance and integration strategies; directs risk assessments and mitigation efforts; resolves complex technical issues impacting mission success.
• Applies advanced engineering principles and scientific methods to guide decision-making, resolve critical issues, and provide strategic recommendations.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to integrate emerging technologies, enhance system reliability, extend lifecycle performance, and reduce total ownership costs.

Qualifications: In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level: Leading program, project or technical management activities for space or aeronautical systems, including planning, research, design, development, testing, evaluation, or cost analysis; Leading analysis, design, or operations of space flight systems, aeronautical systems, propulsion systems, or experimental aircraft operating within or beyond Earth's atmosphere; Leading requirements development and integration of aerospace or flight/ground systems (e.g., payloads, hardware/software, instruments, communications, or specialized equipment). Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application and have all required information available. We encourage you to provide a complete description of your educational achievements and include both paid and non-paid work in the experience portion of your resume. If you submit a resume that does not contain the required information, you may lose consideration. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: To begin the application process, you will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application process. Once logged in to your account, click on the "Apply" link. Follow the prompts to select your resume (2 pages or fewer) and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. Resumes longer than 2 pages will be rejected by the system. Resumes submitted via other document types will not be forwarded to the hiring manager, nor will they be used in the review of your qualifications. We strongly encourage you to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder when creating your resume. Using the resume builder will help you ensure your resume includes important information related to your qualifications and eligibility for this position. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. During the application process you can review, edit, delete and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the 'Include Personal Information' section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the vacancy questionnaire which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify all required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. NASA's online application process provides step by step guidance to ensure you provide all needed information. If you are unable to apply online, please contact NSSC-STAFFING@MAIL.NASA.GOV for assistance. Be advised - application materials faxed, emailed, and/or mailed to Marshall Space Flight Center will not be accepted for this announcement. NASA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact center listed on the job vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-12