General Engineer, AST, Flight Systems Operations (Direct Hire)
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Houston, TX
- On site
- Part-time
- $100,000 / year
- Houston, TX
Job highlights
- Lead technical operations for human spaceflight missions.
- Develop strategic plans and improve mission systems.
- Ensure crew safety and mission success.
- Collaborate with diverse internal and external partners.
- Shape future spaceflight operations and technologies.
About the role
About the Role
This vacancy is aimed at insourcing critical technical leadership skills for human spaceflight operations. Roles may include being the technical expert for real-time mission operations in the Mission Control Center, mission systems development, testing, and integration, training and simulation, analysis, and other mission support functions essential to human spaceflight.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform long-term technical strategic planning and integration.
- Develop consistent approaches for performance limit areas, capturing knowledge and lessons learned for application in other programs.
- Provide recommendations to leadership on opportunities and long-range resource needs for technical issue resolution, testing, and operations product management.
- Develop mission, spacecraft, on-board systems, and/or training requirements ensuring compatibility between mission objectives, vehicle capabilities, crew safety, and mission success.
- Manage the cumulative effect of operational workarounds and use-as-is decisions for design and manufacturing issues and associated risks.
- Coordinate and lead integration activities across multiple stakeholders to ensure alignment with mission objectives, policies, and Directorate priorities.
- Develop and deliver technical briefings, reports, and recommendations to leadership, supporting informed decision-making for real-time flight control of human spaceflight missions and ensuring inter-program consistency.
Qualifications
In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, applicants must meet specialized experience requirements equivalent to the GS-13 level for the GS-14 position. Specialized experience includes:
- Developing and refining flight operations concepts to accomplish mission objectives.
- Developing or refining system requirements, technical solutions, or business processes to improve space mission operations.
- Collaborating with operations, engineering, safety, Program office, and commercial/international partners to evaluate concepts, implement solutions, and recommend improvements based on performance trends or operational requirements.
Your resume must clearly detail how you meet the required specialized experience in your own words. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.
Basic Education Requirement
A bachelor's degree with a major in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science, or other science fields directly related to the position duties. Graduate degrees in qualifying fields are also accepted. Engineering technology degrees are not qualifying. Specific requirements for degrees earned inside and outside the U.S. apply.
Additional Information
- This position is open to U.S. citizens.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and Travel requirements may vary by location.
- Position is subject to background investigation or higher-level clearance.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Flight Controller Physical is required.
- NASA prohibits the use of AI or AI-assisted tools in drafting application responses.
- Additional selections may be made for similar positions.
- CTAP/ICTAP eligibility requires specific documentation.
- Repayment of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) may be required if received within the last five years.
- This position is not part of a bargaining unit.
Key skills/competency
- Flight Systems Operations
- Mission Control Center
- Human Spaceflight
- Technical Strategic Planning
- Requirements Development
- Systems Integration
- Risk Management
- Technical Briefings
- Operations Concepts
- Performance Analysis
Skills & topics
- Flight Systems Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Mission Operations
- Spaceflight
- NASA
- Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Operations
- Technical Lead
- Flight Control
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Emphasize specialized experience in flight operations concepts, system requirements, and cross-organizational collaboration. Use your own words to describe your qualifications.
- Highlight relevant education: Ensure your engineering, science, or math degree is from an accredited institution and meets NASA's specific requirements.
- Address all requirements: Carefully review and meet all conditions of employment, including citizenship and potential background investigations.
- Demonstrate technical expertise: Clearly articulate your experience in developing and refining flight operations concepts and technical solutions for space missions.
- Avoid AI tools: NASA prohibits AI assistance in application responses; ensure your submission is entirely your own work.
Technical preparation
Review flight operations concepts and documentation.,Study spacecraft systems and mission objectives.,Practice developing system requirements and solutions.,Familiarize with risk management in operations.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex technical problem you solved.,How do you handle conflicting priorities?,Tell me about a time you collaborated across teams.,How do you ensure mission success under pressure?
Frequently asked questions
- What specific technical skills are most valued for a Flight Systems Operations Engineer at NASA?
- For a Flight Systems Operations Engineer at NASA, key technical skills include developing and refining flight operations concepts, formulating system requirements, implementing technical solutions, and performing cross-organizational collaboration. Experience in areas like mission control, systems integration, and risk management for human spaceflight is highly valued.
- How can I best showcase my 'specialized experience' for the Flight Systems Operations Engineer role at NASA?
- To best showcase your specialized experience for the Flight Systems Operations Engineer role at NASA, provide a clear, detailed narrative in your own words on your resume. Describe how your past roles involved developing flight operations concepts, refining system requirements or technical solutions, and collaborating with diverse teams to achieve mission objectives.
- Does NASA accept degrees from international universities for the Flight Systems Operations Engineer position?
- Yes, NASA can accept engineering degrees earned outside the U.S. if they are recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with ABET. For other qualifying science degrees earned internationally, you must provide an evaluation from a U.S. specialized organization deeming them equivalent to a U.S. accredited program.
- What is the significance of the Flight Controller Physical for this NASA role?
- The Flight Controller Physical is a mandatory requirement for this Flight Systems Operations Engineer position. It ensures candidates meet the specific health and physical standards necessary to perform the demanding duties of a flight controller in real-time mission operations.
- Can I apply for the General Engineer, AST, Flight Systems Operations position if I am not a U.S. citizen?
- No, this specific General Engineer, AST, Flight Systems Operations position at NASA is open only to U.S. citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Ensure you meet the citizenship requirements before applying.
- What is NASA's policy on using AI for application responses for the Flight Systems Operations Engineer job?
- NASA strictly prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools in drafting application and assessment responses for this Flight Systems Operations Engineer role. Applicants must ensure all submitted materials are their own original work.