Senior Operations Engineer - NASA AFRC

AMERICAN SYSTEMS, a 100% employee-owned federal government contractor, is looking for an Operations Engineer to support innovative research and development efforts at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), at Edwards AFB, CA.

In this role, you'll provide technical leadership and hands-on engineering support across a broad range of operations activities. You'll apply strong engineering fundamentals to help plan, coordinate, and execute complex work in a fast-paced aerospace research environment.

This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful, mission-driven work alongside NASA and industry partners while building your career with an employee-owned company.

As a NASA Operations Engineer with AMERICAN SYSTEMS, you will have the opportunity to do the following:

Engineering and Integration

Define and manage system requirements, risk, and integration strategies.
• Support aircraft operations, modifications, maintenance planning, and troubleshooting.
• Serve as the Operations Engineer for AFRC manned and unmanned projects, including the development of autonomous aircraft technologies and flight vehicle integration procedures across NASA and partner organizations.
• Maintain aircraft configuration management, including manuals, directives, TCTOs, Airworthiness Directives, and Maintenance Directives.
• Prepare and manage Certificates of Authorization (COAs).
• Lead and support flight test planning, including test card development.
• Participate in and lead Operations, Mission Rule, and Systems Safety Working Groups.
• Develop procedures for the assembly, installation, and integration of scientific instruments into NASA aircraft.
• Analyze project objectives, develop execution plans, and support safety reviews, including hazard documentation, FMEA, and mitigation planning.
• Review project instructions to confirm requirements, specifications, and objectives; recommend solutions to technical issues.
• Conduct and oversee system and component testing and research studies supporting performance improvements, development, and quality control.
• Record and analyze test procedures, results, and data; provide recommendations.

Leadership, Research, and Project Management

• Serve as a technical lead and mentor for engineering teams and junior engineers.
• Drive research and development initiatives supporting NASA aerospace advancements.
• Lead Tech Briefs, risk assessments, and strategic planning for flight test programs.
• Represent the Operations Engineering Branch during pre-mission deployments.
• Mentor engineers in technical specialties, systems engineering, and project management.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field. A master's degree is a plus.
• At least 5 years of experience supporting flight test activities on Gulfstream aircraft.
• Ability to work onsite daily at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.
• Availability to work a 9/80 schedule, with alternating Fridays off and core hours generally between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Ability to travel occasionally, both locally and longer distance, by car or commercial air.

Additional Desirable Experience

• Supporting airborne science payloads, research missions, or aircraft modification efforts.
• Working with LIDAR systems, optical payloads, sensor integration, or related airborne instrumentation.
• Supporting Gulfstream platforms or comparable research aircraft fleets.
• Flight test planning, test card development, mission execution, and flight operations.
• Risk management practices, airworthiness certification requirements, and flight safety processes.

We're interested in candidates who bring experience in one or more of the above areas. If your background does not include every item, we still encourage you to apply.