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Overview:

As a Planetary Scientist, the selected candidate will support the Terrestrial and Planetary Environments Team within the Natural Environments Branch (EV44) at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The selected candidate will support various space vehicle projects in a variety of planetary environments related discipline areas including global circulation modeling, atmospheric properties (density, pressure, chemical composition, and winds), dust characteristics, and topography. The selected candidate will analyze the influence of these planetary environments on space vehicle activities. This position is contingent on our NASA customer receiving funding for support during Fiscal Year 2026 and has a start date no earlier than October 4, 2025.

Duties will include the following:

• Perform analysis and deliver reports describing how natural planetary environment data will be applied to the design, development, and operation of various vehicle programs in the discipline area of flight vehicle performance.
  
  
• Perform analysis of mission availability due to natural environments using in-house and self-developed tools.
  
  
• Participate in design and safety reviews related to planetary environments.
  
  
• Provide engineering support to planetary Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM) development.
  
  

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Planetary Science or Atmospheric Sciences, or a Master’s Degree in Planetary Science or Atmospheric Sciences with at least two (2) additional years of experience in characterizing planetary environments.

Required:

• Experience with data analysis, including but not limited calculating occurrence probabilities of specified criteria using multiple input sources.
• Possess knowledge of planetary environments, especially as related to engineering applications.
• Expertise in one or more computer languages. In-house tools are written in Python, IDL, C++, and Fortran.
• The ability to be proactive and complete tasks with minimal direction, to be flexible in easily transitioning between work assignments, and to write effectively without assistance.

Essential Functions

Work Environment:

Office environment. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, accurate and timely communication, both verbally and in writing (100%). Requires ability to interact professionally with co-workers, management, and client (100%). Travel may be necessary, but infrequent (<5%)

Physical Requirements:

Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at NASA facilities to discuss technical issues (10%). Requires sitting at a desk to write reports and perform engineering task activities (80%). Requires ability to use stairs or elevators for access between floors and multiple buildings at NASA and other facilities (10%).

Equipment and Machines:

Requires ability to operate a personal computer and other general office equipment 50%.

Attendance:

Normal workday is from 7:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Overtime during the week and weekends may be required to meet schedules (50% max). Attendance and being prompt is important to provide continuous service to the customer; adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences is required. Regular attendance and punctuality are mandatory for meetings and other planned occasions. (100%).

Other Essential Functions:

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.

#ESSCA, #JSEG, #ASED