Rocket Motor Production Specialist

Rocket Motor Production Specialist

Job Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Job Status: Full Time

Clearance: Active Secret

At Astrion, we are at the forefront of new missile defense technologies and engaged with the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) rigorous engineering efforts to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System (MDS). This exciting, rewarding work helps guarantee the security of the United States, deployed forces, and allies. Join a professional team of highly qualified engineers, analysts, scientists and technicians supporting the research, development, testing and evaluation of the missile defense system whose purpose is to detect, track, engage and destroy adversary missiles.

Our MDA analysts and engineers work in modern, well-appointed government facilities at Redstone Arsenal. Redstone is located in Huntsville, Alabama, otherwise known as "Rocket City." Huntsville is the hub of missile and space research and development. You will collaborate with other missile defense experts - military, government civilians, and contractors from Astrion and other companies. Our team of experts helps the Government manage planning, development and delivery of state-of-the art sensors, weapons, communications, and command/control systems.

The Rocket Motor Production Specialist will support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures Chief Engineer office. Your expertise will be applied across multiple programs developing the next generation of reentry vehicles, rocket motors, and counter measures in support of creating realistic test environments for the nation's missile defense systems.

Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise in support of numerous rocket motor launch vehicle systems from short to long range class motors. These systems range from established systems with decades of heritage to new systems preparing for first flight events. Current focus for active programs will be solid rocket motors. Experience with liquid systems will be of use for possible future projects.
• Support program office in tracking motor production plans and resolving production anomalies.
• Evaluate design, manufacturing, test, and qualification programs for all aspects of a motor, to include the case, nozzle, and propellent.
• Apply expertise in motor systems to evaluate thrust performance based on case and propellent design and make recommendations to senior leaders on trade-offs and capabilities.
• Provide independent review of commercial launch systems capabilities and suitability for use for MDA flight test events.
• Travel as required to support oversight, meetings, reviews, etc.

Required Qualifications / Skills:

• Master's degree with 12+ years of relevant experience
• Note: Bachelor's degree with 20+ years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a Master's degree
• Active DoD Secret security clearance, which requires US Citizenship
• Direct experience with manufacturing aspects of rocket motor components. Strong preference for solid rocket motors and motors for use in short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) and larger vehicles.
• Experience with Stress, Loads, and Structures analysis
• Experience with propellent grain manufacturing and characterization
• Familiarity with ground test operations related to motor firings
• Knowledge of metal and composite materials common to Rocket motor design
• Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Familiarity with MDA and/or DoD programs and processes
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications / Skills:

• MDA/DoD experience and familiarity with the Missile Defense System
• Familiarity with MDA flight test targets and threats
• Experience with Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) tools
• Experience with explosive systems on space and launch vehicles
• Familiarity with aging and surveillance programs for rocket motors
• Familiarity with small ordnance testing (LSC, pyrovalves, etc)
• Experience with AIAA-S-113