International Space Station (ISS) Associate Chief Scientist

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.
Within CSG, the Human Exploration and Spaceflight (HESF) Division supports our NASA customer in all aspects of human space flight. We are looking for an International Space Station (ISS) Associate Chief Scientist (Sr. Project Engineer - Technical Project Management). In this role you will work in the NASA Johnson Space Center Engineering International Space Station Research Integration Office supporting human exploration programs. The ISS Research Integration Office coordinates and optimizes scientific research on the ISS, aligning priorities with NASA's goals, managing resources, and supporting collaboration, policy, and communication efforts. The division provides engineering design, development, testing, and evaluation for all phases of space flight (ascent, entry, orbit, and interplanetary) and for all types of human spacecraft.
Work Model
This is a full-time position based at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX, offering a hybrid work model that combines 3-4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business and customer needs allow.
What You'll Be Doing

• Advise the ISS Chief Scientist on areas of scientific areas lacking consensus and provide guidance on research priorities for NASA payloads.
• Represent ISS research capabilities and limitations in international collaborations, such as the International Space Life Sciences Working Group.
• Promote ISS research through conferences, publications, and public outreach, including approving communication materials.
• Ensure the integration of science leadership into ISS planning and decision-making, contributing to strategic research objectives.
• Offer recommendations to ISS Research Sponsors and manage research portfolios from selection to completion.
• Represent the research community in ISS configuration management and control boards when the ISS Chief Scientist is unavailable.
• Advocate and develop policies to enhance ISS research in alignment with NASA's strategic goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, providing technical consultation across NASA, industry, academic, and international partners.
• Manage and coordinate complex scientific programs, collaborating with multiple agencies and centers.
• Stay informed on scientific advancements, providing guidance and resolving operational issues in ISS research.
• Regularly present complex technical findings, project developments, and innovations to a diverse range of stakeholders, including team members, external partners, and public audiences
• Perform other duties for the customer as required

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for the Sr. Project Engineer - Technical Project Management:

• Bachelor's degree in Life and/or Physical Sciences, Engineering, or closely related field
• At least 10 years of experience in human spaceflight matters, both developmental and operational
• Familiarity with flight science integration, flight operations/procedures and flight hardware/software development and integration
• Knowledge of space flight certification processes to ensure performance and safety requirements are met
• Experience working technically advanced NASA projects
• Excellent teaming and leadership skills with an ability to working across diverse teams and multi-task across various issues/disciplines simultaneously
• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner
• Ability to work within a diverse team environment and many engineering disciplines, where the team is distributed across multiple NASA and Aerospace Corporation organizations, projects, and programs
• Extensive, proven expertise in managing multiple concurrent tasks or projects and providing direction on competing priorities
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location/customer site/domestically/internationally approx. 4-6 times a year
• This position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Masters degree in Life and/or Physical Sciences, Engineering, or closely related field
• Terminal degree in Life and/or Physical Sciences, Engineering, or closely related field
• 12+ years' experience within NASA or working on programs supporting NASA Scientific Research, with understanding of specific NASA human spaceflight topics and research
• Knowledge of ISS integration and management of scientific research conducted aboard the ISS
• Expertise with ISS-related technology, science policies, and strategic goals
• Extensive experience publishing scientific research

Leadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you're an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.