Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Engineer

The role supports engineering teams developing spacecraft, rovers, or other platforms where electrostatic phenomena present mission, safety, or performance risks. Experience with laboratory and field electrostatic testing (high‑voltage discharge, plasma chamber testing, triboelectric measurements, ESD characterization).

Overview:

Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Engineer

LOCATION: NASA Johnson Space Center
JOB STATUS: Full Time, Onsite

CLEARANCE: Background check & U.S. Citizenship required

 

Are you passionate about human space exploration and avionics development? Join our diverse, mission‑driven team!

 

We need your creativity and teamwork to help build systems that enable space exploration. Join us as we tackle exciting challenges for NASA’s deep‑space missions.

 

We are looking for an Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Engineer with Electrostatics Concentration to join our Engineering Division with Astrion.

 

The E3 engineer will support spacecraft charging analysis, surface potentials, ESD mitigation, materials evaluation, and vehicle‑level electrostatic risk assessments.  The role supports engineering teams developing spacecraft, rovers, or other platforms where electrostatic phenomena present mission, safety, or performance risks.

 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

 

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Materials and a minimum of 5 years of job related experience.
• Ability to lead analyses of spacecraft charging, including surface/internal charging, differential potentials, plasma interactions, and discharge risks.
• Ability to develop and validate electrostatic models for vehicle design, verification, and certification.
• Experience with laboratory and field electrostatic testing (high‑voltage discharge, plasma chamber testing, triboelectric measurements, ESD characterization).
• Working knowledge of NASA‑STD‑4003, NASA‑HDBK‑4002, MIL‑STD‑464, and MIL‑STD‑461 as applied to spacecraft.
• Basic understanding of RF design, circuit theory, electromagnetic principles, and EMI/EMC fundamentals.
• Familiarity with common electrical test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, function generators, power supplies, analyzers).
• Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OneNote, Outlook).

RESPONSIBILITES

 

• Lead spacecraft charging analyses for surface, internal, and differential charging, plasma interactions, and ESD risks.
• Develop and validate electrostatic models to support vehicle design, verification, and certification.
• Conduct electrostatic testing, including high-voltage discharge, plasma chamber, triboelectric, and ESD characterization tests.
• Evaluate materials, coatings, grounding, bonding, and shielding methods to reduce charging and ESD risks.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with NASA standards and integrate electrostatic controls into vehicle designs.             
• Perform other duties as required.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/ SKILLS

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or Materials.
• Experience with electrostatic and EMC analysis tools (EMA‑3D Charge, HFSS, LT‑Spice, NASCAP).
• Understanding of orbital environments and their spacecraft charging implications.
• Experience assessing circuits and electronics for electrostatic risk and mitigation effectiveness.
• Ability to define bonding, coating, passivation, and operational mitigation strategies.
• Experience conducting ESD hazard assessments and analyzing discharge pathways.
• Background in system engineering, EMI/EMC design, compliance testing, and MIL‑STD‑461 test interpretation.
• Experience reviewing schematics, PCB layouts, and mechanical designs for EM mitigation.
• Familiarity with filtering, grounding, shielding, RF systems, high‑power networks, and electronics design.
• Experience with EMI/EMC tools (SPICE, Matlab/Simulink, Mathcad, LabVIEW).
• Experience with EMI test setups, chambers, antennas, and grounding practices.

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