Engineer Electrical Level 4 - Power Subsystems - Dulles
$142,200–$213,400 year
On-siteMcLean, Virginia, United States or Dulles Town Center, Virginia, United States
Job Summary
Develop, maintain, and verify mechanical and electrical requirements for space environment solar array wings and release mechanisms. Perform component trade studies, execute design concepts for array wings, and conduct power estimates, degradation analysis, and IV curve creation. Ensure compliance with electrical, mechanical, structural, and thermal design requirements through rigorous review and analysis. Mentor engineering teams, direct design reviews, and participate in risk assessment and mitigation activities. Review and approve mechanical drawings, collaborate with vendors to source assemblies, and champion continuous improvement in electromechanical design. This role requires a 9/80 schedule with potential night/weekend shifts and domestic/international travel, with on-site presence at Dulles or Mclean/Tyson's Corner facilities for three days per week.
Required Qualifications
- U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of relevant experience
- Expertise in electromechanical system design, specific to space environment solar arrays, including mechanical, structural, thermal, and power analysis
- Proven ability to interpret higher spacecraft bus / subsystem level requirements and develop complex lower solar array/unit level mechanical and electrical requirements and define or validate design strategies to align to requirements
- Experience working in cross-functional engineering teams and design projects
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- 25% of the Time travel
- In-person on-site at the Dulles and/or Mclean/Tyson's Corner facilities in Virginia at 3 working days per week minimum
- 9/80 schedule
- Some night/weekend shift work
- Periodic domestic and international travel
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs
Desired Qualifications
- Specific experience in space environment solar array electromechanical design, integration, analyses, requirement verification, and testing within aerospace or space sectors
- Exposure and understanding of common space environment solar array design and qualification industry standards/handbooks such as AIAA-S-111, AIAA-S-112, AIAA-S-122, NASA-CR-149364, and/or ECSS-E-ST-20-08C
- Understanding of typical mechanical analyses and methodologies used in space environment deployable solar array designs including latch force calculations, torque margins, boom push force assessments, motor drive and gear head sizing, deployment dynamics, mechanical stress and thermal analyses, modal analyses, quasi-static analyses, and Hold-Down-Release-Mechanism pre-loading calculations
- Strong background in and ability to interpret typical mechanical design work-products such as Finite Element Models (FEMs), Mechanical Interface Control Documents (MICDs), and Computer Aided Design models (CAD)
- Understanding of typical electrical power analyses and methodologies used in space environment solar array sizing and performance degradation assessments including typical solar array loss factors, mission life, seasonal effects, radiation effects, thermal cycling effects, and shadowing/attenuation effects
- Understanding of typical considerations for electrical grounding and ground paths for space environment solar array design, including both deployable and body mounted solar array, and mitigations for solar array surface charging and ESD risks
- Understanding of typical derating requirements for electrical components including harnessing, connectors, diodes, thermistors, Platinum Resistance Thermometers (PRTs), using common industry standards such as EEE-INST-002
- Understanding of typical space environment solar array testing philosophies and common practices such as Large Array Pulse Solar Simulations (LAPSS), Forward Bias Visual Inspection / Electroluminescence (FBVI / EL), deployment testing considerations, ambient pressure thermal cycling (TC) and thermal vacuum cycling (TVAC) and bakeouts, and acoustics testing
- General exposure / familiarity with higher level Electrical Power Subsystems (EPS) and other components that typically interface to space rated solar arrays e.g., Solar Array Drive Assemblies (SADAs) and Power Distribution Avionics
- General exposure / familiarity with leading space industry photovoltaic technologies
- Demonstrated success interfacing with multi-disciplinary teams in fast-paced, high-demand environments
- Strong leadership skills
- Customer service experience
- Vendor interfacing experience
- Budget management
- Strong self-initiated work ethic
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