Aerospace Engineer of Materials

Duties

NASA Aerospace Materials Engineers are experts in understanding what types of materials are the best to use for the manufacture of any given spacecraft or aircraft. To enable maximum lift, materials must be light, but to endure the extreme stresses (such as heat) encountered in space travel, materials must also be extremely strong. As space flights continue and vehicles travel ever further and on increasingly complicated missions, it’s critical that the engineers choose the correct materials. Part of their duties include test materials including metals, plastics, composites, which are a combination of materials, glasses, lubricants, ceramics, and much more. Aerospace Materials Engineers must also determine if the materials chosen will work for the spacecraft’s design, be able to withstand radiation, fatigue, heat, corrosion, aging, and other damage. The engineer considers raw as well as finished materials.

Challenges

Aerospace Materials Engineers must constantly educate themselves on new and emerging technologies. Because much of their work is cutting edge, they must be especially creative in thinking out of the box and finding solutions to complex issues and problems.

Requirements

Applicants must be United States citizens. At minimum, a four-year physical science, engineering, life sciences, computer science, mathematics, or related fields from an accredited university or college is required, though a PhD is preferred. Applicants must pass a background investigation as a condition of employment.

Training

NASA will provide some training on the job.

Scheduling

This position often requires a lot of traveling. Transportation expenses on behalf of the job may be covered.

Salary and Benefits

NASA benefits include sick leave, short and long term disability protection, life and travel insurance, an employee assistance program, annual leave, paid Federal holidays, and a retirement plan.

$123,556.00 – $152,000.00

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