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Aerospace Engineer, AST, Aerospace Vehicle Design and Mission Analysis (Direct Hire)

Langley Research Center

Job Location:

Hampton, VA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 108019 - 108019

Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)

Application Deadline: 3 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This is an Aerospace Engineer position at NASA Langley Research Center in the Vehicle Analysis Branch of the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate. The Branch focuses on designing and evaluating revolutionary aircraft launch vehicles and spacecraft to enable advances in aeronautics and space exploration.

Duties

Maintains technical expertise in unique or leading-edge atmospherics flight mission analysis capabilities to meet specific mission requirements.
Defines required tools and assesses design requirements constraints and limitations of uncertain nature under which aerospace systems and equipment must operate.
Performs systems analysis studies defining mission requirements flight performance envelopes configuration designs flight control system requirements and flight phase/systems compatibility assessments.
Evaluates advanced systems architectures concepts and technology requirements supporting aerospace vehicle development and mission objectives.
Understands visualizes analyzes designs and operates aerospace vehicles including launch vehicles reentry vehicles high-speed atmospheric flight vehicles in-space vehicles and other spacecraft.
Conducts flight mechanics and vehicle performance analyses of advanced vehicle concepts across all flight regimes and interfaces with multidisciplinary specialists and team leads.
Assesses existing analytical tools and capabilities identifies gaps and develops strategies to address those gaps in the near term.
Seeks solutions to complex problems of critical importance to the success of the Agencys goals missions and interests.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

This position is open to U.S. citizens nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
This position may require a one-year probationary/trial period. If selected the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
Financial Disclosure Drug Testing and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.

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 NASAs 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 the GS-13 you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

Performing flight mechanics analysis of flight vehicles to support mission or engineering requirements;
Leading or supporting multidisciplinary teams to assess flight vehicle performance or develop aerospace system concepts; and
Preparing or presenting technical reports or analysis findings in support of engineering or mission objectives.

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 to review NASAs guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelors degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science Mathematics Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science including digital computer system architecture and system software organization the representation and transformation of information structures and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelors degree you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program please visit .

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories please visit and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria go to and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: degrees must have been received in the year of or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) you must:

Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in Required Documents

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility click here - applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement if selected may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement click here - Executive Order 14343 this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

your performance and conduct;
the needs and interests of the agency;
whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required Experience:

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