Test Stand Engineer

Astroboticis at the forefront of advancing space exploration and technology development. Our expertise spans from lunar rovers landers and infrastructure to spacecraft navigation machine vision and computing systems for in-space robotic applications. To date the company has been contracted for two lunar missions and has won more than 60 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial technology contracts worth more than $600 million.

We recently launched and operated the first American lunar lander mission since the Apollo Program. Beyond helping lead America back to the Moon Astrobotic developed and operates reusable vertical takeoff vertical landing (VTVL) rockets and continues to advance next-generation VTVL capabilities and advanced rocket engines. Established in 2007 Astrobotic is headquartered in Pittsburgh PA with a propulsion and test campus in Mojave CA.

This position will be part of the Propulsion & Test team operating one or more of Astrobotics engine test stands (5K-25K lbf). Applicants should have a good foundation in propulsion with a good technical understanding of fluid systems. Experience with cryogenic propulsion systems is a strong plus. Experience with fluid system builds and maintenance is a strong plus. This position will beon-site in Mojave CA.

Job Responsibilities:

• Maintain test worthiness of 5-25K pound-force (lbf) engine test stand (cryogenic bi-propellant) contribute to effective management of other propulsion test stands and ensure safe test operations.
• Support test stand build article integration readiness reviews and test operations.
• Manage maintenance and overhaul planning and execution including coordinating staffing budget and schedule needs with other teams.
• Develop test products including test plans test procedures and test reports.
• Contribute to test campaign planning for engine testing including leading Test Readiness Reviews and supporting Data Reviews.
• Generate and support discrepancy documentation and ensure test processes and test discipline are being followed during integration and test execution.
• Manage people and processes effectively particularly demonstrating an ability to understand and read team member well-being in a high-pressure test environment.
• Work with program management and engineering leadership to ensure team has technical understanding of test assets operations and safety training etc. including developing test-specific processes and standards.
• Run test operations as Test Conductor which includes being responsible for safety of personnel hardware and equipment.
• Work with systems engineers to develop vehicle and test stand requirements maintain appropriate documentation and support design verification via test.
• Support project management by providing task lists and task dependencies estimating labor and material cost requirements and providing status of test activities.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering manufacturing engineering materials engineering mechanical engineering or engineering physics.
• 2 years of experience in engine test.
• Experience using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to design parts/assemblies (SolidWorks preferred).
• Experience with Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID).
• Experience developing hardware from concept to working prototypes.
• Experience safely testing with and handling hazardous materials (cryogens high pressure gas).
• Hands-on project experience with fluid and mechanical systems.
• Awareness of regulatory safety requirements (e.g. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)).
• Hands-on fabrication skills.
• Development of subsystem requirements from system requirements.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• 5 years of professional experience working with rocket and propulsion development test and flight operations.
• Experience as technical lead for launch vehicle engine test stand rocket subsystem and/or experimental aircraft.
• Familiarity with explosive hazard calculations (Department of Defense Explosives Safety Regulation (DESR) 6055.09).
• Familiarity with pressurized component test and design requirements including American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) SMetallic Pressure Vessels Pressurized Structures and Pressure Components and Air Force Space Command Manual (AFSPCMAN) 91-710Range Safety User Requirements Manual.
• Familiarity with system cleanliness standards including Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology Standard (IEST-STD-CC1246) Marshall Space Flight Center Specification (MSFC-SPEC-164) or equivalent.
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) propulsion and fluid system design and analysis software (Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP) Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) Rocket Engine Transient Simulator (ROCETS) etc.).
• Experience with design of the ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling for engine manufacturing testing and maintenance.

Note: This position may be filled at multiple levels

Salary

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance business objectives and the candidates professional experience. Base salary is just one component of Astrobotics competitive total rewards strategy.

Benefits:

Benefits include Medical dental vision long and short-term disability voluntary life insurance FSA Plans 401k and open PTO.

Export Control Regulations:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. person which includes U.S. nationals lawful permanent residents protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) including those individuals granted refugee or asylum status or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Astrobotic Technology Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race color religion sex (including pregnancy and gender identity) national origin political affiliation sexual orientation marital status disability genetic information age membership in an employee organization retaliation parental status military service or other non-merit factor.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation:

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process please send a request to.