Sr. Mechanical Design & Stress Engineer

The Jacobs Space Exploration Group (JSEG) a primary contractor for NASA since 1989 is comprised of 10 companies and is located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL (ranked #1 in Best Places to Live by U.S. News). 

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Our comprehensive benefits package includes wellness programs, 11 paid holidays, parental leave, paid time off, employee perks and much more.  With these benefits, plus the option for flexible schedules and possible remote a few days a week (depending on customer requirements) we'll support you as you pursue a balanced, fulfilling life-at work and at home.

Position Description

Our Structural & Mechanical Design team is a high performing group executing challenging tasks for design and analysis of the Space Launch System (SLS) including the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will be used for future flights of NASA's Space Launch System. The EUS is used on SLS Block 1B and Block 2 and replaces the SLS Block 1's Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage.  This exciting work will serve as a critical step in sending humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond!

We are searching for an engineer to provide Structural Analysis and Mechanical Design support for the EUS development. Working independently and in an integrated, collaborative team, your responsibilities would be to:

• Provide design insight and resulting input for trade studies related to test support for SLS EUS
• Coordinate with other disciplines including stress, thermal, materials and manufacturing to perform design insight/oversight role to ensure operability, accessibility, etc and provide input to improve the development of SLS EUS hardware
• Participate in reviews, meetings, Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), boards, working groups and trade studies related to SLS EUS hardware
• Review and utilize previous launch vehicle data, or launch vehicle development efforts and studies, to provide insight to SLS EUS test equipment design and analysis hardware development including corresponding recommendations based on lessons learned
• Provide support to the design/analysis of SLS EUS hardware including preliminary design, mass estimates and layout generation or inputs to support scheduled milestones
• Perform preliminary sizing, optimization, and generation of preliminary test plans to aid in the development of SLS EUS hardware.
• Coordinate and document interface requirements with SLS Elements.
• Represent structural and Mechanical Design function for SLS EUS hardware to associated Systems Engineering & Integration groups.
• Participate in EUS verification and validation efforts related to contractor developed hardware and test equipment
• Produce and maintain strength analysis models and reports for test hardware.
• Provide support in the development, review, and implementation of changes in SLS program documentation. This includes serving as the
• Change Package Engineer (CPE) as requested. This involves gathering the pertinent information and documentation from appropriate disciplines, compiling and presenting to the appropriate governing boards
• Perform structural strength, stability, fracture, and fatigue analysis for the SLS EUS test related hardware. Some items may require detailed stress analysis products, whereas other structural analysis products may be less detailed in nature in order to support in an Insight/Oversight manner.
• Structural analysis support shall also include integration and support of structural testing activities, pre-test analysis, and post-correlation activities.
• Deliver products in areas such as structural analysis of structures, mechanical devices, ground support equipment, special test equipment, tooling, mechanisms, composites, strength (stress) analysis, fatigue analysis, fracture analysis, and damage tolerance assessment.
• Provide support to and assist in all critical major EUS hardware reviews including but not limited to Critical Design Review, Preliminary Flight Readiness Review, and Flight Readiness Review.
• Provide strength analysis support for major milestones upcoming.
• Provide strength analysis support for table-top briefings of proposed hardware.
• Provide technical inputs to MSFC EUS Structures Lead resulting from table-top reviews. 
• Provide detailed structural analysis of Structural Test Article (STA) Ground Support Equipment (GSE). 
• Provide structural strength support for EUS Green Run activities
   

A degree in engineering or related field is required.  Degree from an ABET accredited institution preferred. Typically, educational requirements are the equivalent of a Ph.D., with a minimum 9 years of experience, Masters with at least 13 years of experience, or BS with at least 15 years of experience.

Skills and experience should demonstrate:

• Experience in performing structural strength, stability, fracture, and fatigue analysis.
• Knowledge of structural design methods, test philosophy and methodology, material behavior, fabrication methods.
• Familiarity with launch vehicle systems (structures, separation systems, propulsion including pressurization and cryogenic propellant behavior, thermal protection system performance, debris impact, pyrotechnic systems, etc.).
• Experience with PATRAN, FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB or comparable tools is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• A proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite competence (Word, Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook) is required.
• Capability of coordination of and participating on a multi-disciplinary team of engineers with expertise in thermal design and analysis, materials (metallic and non-metallic), aero-sciences, manufacturing and producibility, and structural test equipment and test hardware.
• Capability of working with other areas including propulsion systems, reaction control systems, engine systems and avionics, quality control, ground support system, safety and mission assurance and reliability and system engineering and integration.
• Experience reading and interpreting 2-D drawings including design tolerances.

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Essential Functions

Work Environment: 
Office environment. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, accurate and timely communication, both verbally and in writing (100%). Requires ability to interact professionally with co-workers, management, and client (100%). Requires travel in the domestic USA (<15%).

Physical Requirements:
Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at NASA facilities to discuss technical issues (10%). Also, requires sitting for extended periods of time at a desk to write reports and perform engineering tasks (80%). Requires ability to use stairs or elevators for access between floors and multiple buildings at NASA and Jacobs facilities (10%).

Equipment and Machines: 
Requires ability to operate a personal computer, a telephone, fax machine, copier, calculator, and other general office equipment (100%).

Attendance: 
Normal workday is from 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Minimal overtime may be required (10%) to meet schedule milestones and to support technical demands of the job. Regular attendance is a necessity and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

Other Essential Functions:
The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.