Mechanical Engineer, AST, Mechanical Experimental Equipment (Direct Hire)

Mechanical Engineer, AST, Mechanical Experimental Equipment (Direct Hire)

Department: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Location(s): Stennis Space Center, Mississippi

Salary Range: $74678 - $138370 Per Year

Job Summary: As an Mechanical Engineer with the Mechanical Engineering Branch within Engineering and Test Directorate, you will be responsible for generating Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), defining and documenting requirements, performing analysis of piping and structural systems, generating pipe routing within existing facilities, conducting design reviews with internal and external customers, and documenting analysis.

Major Duties:

• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Conducts mechanical engineering design and analysis work in the area of rocket propulsion testing.
• Conducts analysis on cryogenic liquid, high pressure liquid and gas, pneumatic or hydraulic systems. Develops recommendations for meeting customer requirements.
• Develops and implements performance requirements and design criteria for evaluating propulsion test facilities including cryogenic and high-pressure propellant systems.
• Conducts preliminary investigations to obtain baseline data for propulsion test system studies. Documents design process (i.e. design reviews) per procedures.
• Generates Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (PIDs), 3D models of pipe routes/structural elements within existing facility models, and fabrication drawings.
• Provides technical consultation to civil servants and supports contractors in the resolution and correction of field problems. Monitors corrective actions through completion.
• Applies theories, principles, practical concepts, and recommends new processes related to engineering design and its standards, codes, techniques, and practices for process piping.

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-11, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Supporting the development of computational and mathematical models for stress analysis of piping systems (e.g., liquid, gas, or cryogenic); Supporting the evaluation of computational and mathematical models to determine structural adequacy of systems; Analyzing design and analysis documentation of existing systems against project requirements to evaluate the capability of mechanical, hydraulic, cryogenic or high-pressure components and systems. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Developing computational and mathematical models of liquid, gas, or cryogenic piping systems to perform stress analysis; Developing computational and mathematical models of liquid, gas, or cryogenic piping systems to perform stress analysis; Generating and evaluating computational and mathematical models to assess the structural adequacy of systems; Providing engineering solutions and design guidance for mechanical, hydraulic, cryogenic or high-pressure components, subsystems, and systems. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Reviewing and developing computational and mathematical models of liquid, gas, or cryogenic piping systems to perform stress analysis; Generating and evaluating computational and mathematical models to assess the structural adequacy of systems; Providing engineering solutions and design guidance for mechanical, hydraulic, cryogenic or high-pressure components, subsystems, and systems. 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. Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of undergraduate or graduate education only (GS-11): Code 740 Facilities: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Architecture, Astronautical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Optical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Geology, Materials Science, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Metallurgy, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics (or other related field), if includes or is supplemented by 12 semester hours (or the equivalent) in appropriate physical science or engineering courses.

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 Stennis 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: 2026-05-12