Job Overview

This job announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 21 October 2024
To properly credit work experience, resumes should contain DD/MMM/YYYY. Candidates are requested to provide references.

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Nuclear Mission Branch (AFRL/RVBN) seeks a highly motivated and experienced mid-senior career professional to plan, execute, and analyze testing of re-entry vehicles in support of nuclear science & technology research. Primary focus will be on performing successful flight tests to inform science and technology objectives.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrate technical competence and critical thinking skills for the development and execution of experimental reentry flight tests to include pre- and post-planning, reviews, technical requirements and analysis (safety, cyber, electromagnetic), documentation, and supporting payload and subsystem integration and testing.
• Lead a multidisciplinary test team to implement tests on experimental or other established platforms, communicating and coordinating test vehicle requirements and environments and configurations to engineering, assembly, instrumentation, remote sensing, and operations teams.
• Support pre-flight integration and testing, including shock, vibration, EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum, acoustic, and hardware/software-in-the-loop testing.
• Use multidisciplinary engineering methodologies and risk management practices to support test execution strategies while monitoring test support and systems integration progress.
• Conduct and analyze technical analyses (e.g., trajectory, aerodynamics, stability, thermal loading, dispersion, environmental) to support flight experiment execution.
• Support flight vendors with FAA and test range regulatory logistics.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities; as determined by agency policy

Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering from an accredited institution
• Applicants must currently hold, or have the ability to obtain, a DOD TS/SCI clearance
• Proven experience in planning and executing reentry and/or flight related tests
• Understanding of re-entry environments, vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics
• Demonstrated ability to meet schedule and deliverables for multiple concurrent projects with a range of priorities
• Experience with flight test data acquisition and analysis and proficiency with data analysis tools, e.g. Matlab, Python, etc.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Physics, or in a related program
• Familiarity with AFRL or military research experiment, test and safety procedures, requirements, and documentation
• 3+ years of experience planning and executing flight tests (air or space)
• Knowledge of military acquisitions and technical program management interactions with the AF contracting process
• Knowledge of advanced materials and thermal protection systems used in re-entry vehicles.

(Req. No. 24324)

Series

08XX

13XX

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) employs approximately 11,500 military, civilian and contractor personnel, and manages a $7 billion portfolio of investments. The lab supports external customers and partners with industry while investing in basic research, applied research and advanced technology development. As one integrated lab, AFRL seamlessly supports the Science & Technology needs of two services: the Air Force and the Space Force.