Space Environments Engineer

Space Environments Engineer
Engineer II
ADV00061K
NASA Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas

HX5 is an award-winning provider of engineering, research and development, and technical services to clients such as NASA and the Department of Defense. Founded in 2004, HX5 is a fast-growing veteran- and woman-owned company with locations nationwide.

HX5 is currently seeking a Space Environments Engineer to join our team in Houston, Texas at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide support to the Gateway Program in the definition of natural and induced space environments.
• Provide systems engineering support to the Gateway Program in space environments requirements and verification activities, working in concert with NASA civil servants and designated contractors.
• Evaluate induced environmental hazards between elements or vehicles as the Gateway stack expands over a 15-year period.
• Conduct systems engineering trade studies to identify potential risks and mitigations. 
• Develop and update semi-empirical and theoretical models.
• Analyze/model molecular contamination and transport of contaminants from materials outgassing lunar dust, vacuum venting and rocket engine thruster plumes onto Gateway.
• Analyze optical property impacts from molecular contamination with exposure to the orbital environment (ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, and atomic oxygen).
• Analyze/model plasma effects and spacecraft charging.
• Analyze/model radiation transport and effects on Gateway hardware. 
• Assess compatibility of spacecraft hardware with natural and induced space environments.
• Perform other duties as required.

Education and Experience:
This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• BS in engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering school
• Two (2) years of related experience. 
• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience in Computer Programing.
• Strong analytical and computational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary field.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Preferences:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Nuclear), Physics or Chemistry
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Engineering.
• 5 or more years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience (e.g., M.S. or Ph.D.).
• GPA 3.0 or higher. 
• Knowledge of natural and induced Space Environments (Cislunar – Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and High Earth Orbit (HEO)).
• Knowledge of GCR, solar wind/ plasma, CMEs/SEPs, solar irradiance, micrometeoroid, and cislunar gravity models and definitions.
• Knowledge of lunar dust characteristics and effects.
• Experience with developing software to implement analytical models.
• Experience with materials outgassing, molecular transport, thin film deposition, optical property degradation, molecular gas dynamics, and/or multi-phase flows.
• Experience with hypergolic and Hall Effect thrusters' operation as well as associated plume characteristics.
• Experience with plasma charging analyses, ionizing radiation analyses, and/or related tools (NASCAP, SPIS, IRI, AE9/AP9, CREME96, SHIELDOSE, ESP/PHYCHIC, etc).
• Experience with external contamination/molecular deposition analysis codes and/or tools (e.g, Tecplot, NX, HyperWorks, ParaView, Matlab, LS Dyna, etc.)    
• Experience with the Gateway Program, other NASA programs, and/or other space projects
• Experience with the LINUX operating system.​

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position and offers a 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off). 

Other Position Requirements:

• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.

HX5 offers a competitive salary and benefits package to include:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401(k) plan with Company Match
• Paid Holidays
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Identity Protection
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter/Transit Spending Accounts
• Group Legal Coverage Options

HX5, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

HX5, LLC is a Drug Free Workplace Employer.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please call (850) 362-6551.