Senior Staff Engineer - Facility Systems Analysis - 3502 - with Growth Opportunities

Job Title: Senior Staff Engineer - Facility Systems Analysis - 3502
Department/Branch: Mission Support/Technology Innovations
Functional Branch: Engineering
Position Type: Regular, Full-Time 
Grade Level: 38-39

This opportunity is being offered by National Aerospace Solutions, the team selected by the U.S. Air Force to conduct Test and Operations Sustainment at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee.  National Aerospace Solutions is a limited liability company comprised of Bechtel National Inc. (as lead company) and Sierra Lobo Inc. with teaming Subcontractors nLogic Inc. and Chugach Federal Solutions Inc. AEDC operates more than 55 aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, arc heaters, ballistic ranges and other specialized units located in six states. Many of the complex's test units have capabilities unmatched elsewhere in the United States; some are unique in the world. AEDC is one of three installations which are part of the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), one of six subordinate commands of the Air Force Materiel Command organization and an important national resource.

AEDC’s mission is to conduct developmental test and evaluation for the Nation through modeling, simulation, ground, and flight test.  Execution of the mission requires a large team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals from multiple technical disciplines to effectively accomplish the objectives of our test customers.

The Technology and Innovations Branch of Mission Support is seeking a highly qualified ground test facility analyst in the field of aerospace ground test techniques, modeling, and technology.

The AEDC ground test facilities provide simulation of air and space vehicle environments.

This senior level technical position must be well versed in many aspects of the physics and physics-based engineering analyses of the ground-based test facilities and their capabilities.

The technical analyst will work to provide process understanding and conceptual analytical approaches, analyze and assess conceptual design approaches, and predict capabilities of facilities. This work involves an advanced degree of difficulty and complexity of integrated systems’ operations which provide a broad range of ground test capabilities. The successful applicant must have demonstrated the ability to publish and present deep technical insight and understanding to senior level decision makers.

Job Duties:

The analyst will technically lead development of facility analyses, approaches, means and methods to deliver timely, well-engineered analysis approaches. This often includes analytical modeling and total facility performance predictions. The approaches will be well documented to foster knowledge transfer for future work. The candidate must possess a strong ability to publish and present results to a wide range of audiences ranging from junior engineer to executive level decision makers. 

The analyst will apply existing analysis approaches and/or develop analytical approaches and solve complex engineering problems involving areas such as incompressible, compressible flow, phase change, thermodynamics and heat transfer fluids and models, ejectors and diffuser trains, mechanics and strengths of materials, and kinematic and kinetic models. Adapt, apply and/or develop steady state, transient and dynamic working mathematical models.

Specific duties include:

• Develop system level approaches to facility engineering and facility analysis.  
• Publish and present conclusions of analyses to provide technical insight and understanding to senior level decision makers.
• Adapt approaches and/or develop novel approaches to complex, difficult facility problems.
• Provide technical guidance and independent reviews at all levels.
• Provide the ability to leverage existing capabilities to current and future problems.
• Support test facility control system development by providing physics-based mathematical models and the appropriate hardware-in-the-loop simulation environments.
• Support design of test facility components through application of process fluid principles.
• Pursue identified test facility enhancements and technologies that extend facility capability, reliability, and availability.
• Analyze and assess aerospace ground test facilities and technologies by developing engineering calculations, specifications, plans, investigations, diagrams, models, and technical reports.
• Supports the Facility Technology Engineering function with development, implementation, deployment  and adherence to common engineering work processes throughout the TOS contract.
• Develop a collaborative open innovative technical workforce for technical developments.
• Build an environment with freedom to explore innovative and practical solutions to complex problems.
• Provide technical mentorship and develop junior and senior level technical personnel.
• It is a condition of employment to wear company issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Basic Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in physics, mechanical engineering, or aerospace engineering from an accredited engineering school.
• At least twelve years of experience in aerospace / vehicle ground test facility analysis, modeling and analytical approach development.
• Current US Citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in physics, mechanical engineering, or aerospace engineering from an accredited engineering school
• Extensive AEDC Facilities experience including processes, systems and analytical methodologies supporting test assets.
• Familiarity with ground test end users, launch and flight systems, directed energy and other advancing technologies.
• Familiarity with design and analysis of ground test infrastructure such as sub-, trans-, super-, and hypersonic ground test facilities, wind tunnels, high altitude turbine engine test cells, industrial compression and exhaust systems, exhaust gas cooling (surface and spray) , hypersonic propulsion, test cells, arc heated facilities, rocket test cells, and ballistic ranges
• Familiarity with national ground test facilities similar to AEDC facilities.
• Ability to communicate on multiple levels (senior management to new engineers) the issues and proposed solutions as well as the supporting methodology
• Experience and familiarity with aerospace ground test technologies including nozzles, diffusers, ejectors, vacuum systems, industrial combustion processes, heating and cooling systems, propulsion test compressors and exhausters and exhaust gas handling, arc heaters, cryogenic systems, instrumentation data and control systems.

Due to Air Force Security requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required for employment at AEDC.

NAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minority/Women/Veterans/Disabled (AA/EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Applicants with a physical or mental disability, who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, may e-mail their request to [email protected].

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT RESUMES to this address as they will not be considered for employment opportunities.