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

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

Department: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Location(s): White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

Salary Range: $106437 - $138370 Per Year

Job Summary: You will serve as a Project Manager in the Materials and Components Laboratory Office, NASA White Sands Test Facility to ensure the safe performance of material and component analysis and testing for NASA and other customers. Core capabilities include: Propellants and Aerospace Fluids Testing and Analysis; Oxygen Systems Testing and Analysis; Hypervelocity Impact Testing (Micrometioroid and Orbital Debris); Composite Pressure Systems Testing and Analysis; and Flight Acceptance Standard Test.

Major Duties:

• Performs project management of test and analysis activities to determine effects of operational environments on materials, components and systems which may include hypergolic propellants, oxygen, hydrogen, green propellants, and high pressure gases.
• Serves as the primary focal point for the team’s interaction with external organizations, customers and stakeholders. Ensures coordination with other offices to establish content, cost, and schedule of products, deliverables, and services.
• Manages the operations, maintenance, and test support activities in the labs and facilities associated with the four core capabilities including developing and implementing key improvements.
• Leads projects through the various phases from design and planning through implementation and finally closeout. Reviews status and implements appropriate actions to ensure test objectives are effectively attained.
• Serves as an engineer/scientist assisting in the study, design, development, and execution of operations and maintenance associated with the four core capabilities.
• Exercises expertise to ensure test objectives are met and to ensure hazardous testing/operations adhere to approved WSTF procedures and safety requirements.
• Participates in teams preparing/performing test and system readiness reviews, safety reviews, design reviews, source evaluations, failure investigation for projects in the office as well as outside of the office.

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-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Performing testing of materials, components, or systems using analytical, experimental, or computational methods. Performing and interpreting data, calculations, or analyses on specialized information. Advising on and providing recommendations or solutions to address test or experiment design or to resolve a variety of testing problems or issues. 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-CONTACTCENTER@MAIL.NASA.GOV for assistance. Be advised - application materials faxed, emailed, and/or mailed to Johnson Space 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: 2026-03-23