Overview:
Parachute Systems – Subject Matter Expert
LOCATION: Remote
JOB STATUS: Full-time
CLEARANCE: BI investigation
CERTIFICATION: N/A
TRAVEL: Limited; as needed
Must be US citizen
Astrion is seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Parachute Systems to support NASA human spaceflight programs and advanced aerospace supporting Kennedy Space Center. This position provides Mission Assurance, Quality Engineering, and technical oversight support for critical parachute systems supporting crewed and cargo spaceflight missions, including Commercial Crew Program (CCP) vehicles and associated flight hardware. The role is remote, with occasional travel to supplier, customer, and manufacturing locations. Candidates located in Southern California, particularly within reasonable proximity to key aerospace facilities, are preferred. Candidates located near Kennedy Space Center (Florida) and Johnson Space Center (Texas) will also be considered.
The selected candidate will serve as a trusted technical authority, providing independent assessment and insight into parachute system design, manufacturing, testing, certification, flight readiness, and post-flight performance. This role requires close collaboration with NASA, commercial partners, engineering teams, and suppliers to ensure compliance with mission assurance requirements and the safe operation of flight-critical hardware.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide subject matter expertise in parachute systems supporting NASA human spaceflight and aerospace programs.
- Support Mission Assurance and Quality Engineering activities for parachute hardware, including design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing, certification, and flight operations.
- Review parachute packing, handling, storage, and shipping processes to verify compliance with approved procedures and standards
- Participate in Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs), Critical Design Reviews (CDRs), Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), and other technical milestone reviews.
- Review and assess flight hardware certification packages, End Item Data Packages (EIDPs), manufacturing records, inspection reports, test data, X-ray data, material certifications, and damage assessments.
- Identify, evaluate, and communicate technical, quality, and mission assurance risks affecting flight hardware and mission readiness.
- Support anomaly investigations, failure analyses, and root cause determinations involving parachute system performance and flight hardware discrepancies.
- Review nonconformance reports (NCRs), corrective actions, waivers, deviations, and risk assessments associated with parachute systems.
- Conduct supplier surveillance, manufacturing oversight, audits, and process verification activities to ensure compliance with quality requirements and approved procedures.
- Provide independent technical assessments and recommendations to NASA leadership regarding parachute system readiness, certification status, and risk posture.
- Support configuration management, hardware traceability, and certification tracking efforts for flight-critical parachute components.
- Witness and evaluate critical manufacturing, assembly, inspection, integration, testing, and flight hardware processing activities
- Collaborate within Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to resolve technical issues and improve mission assurance processes.
- Prepare technical reports, assessments, findings, and presentations for engineering, safety, and program management stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 15+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's degree in a related technical discipline with 10+ years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience supporting parachute systems, aerospace recovery systems, flight hardware, or other critical aerospace systems.
- Experience supporting Mission Assurance, Quality Engineering, Safety & Mission Assurance (SMA), or related aerospace quality disciplines.
- Experience supporting design reviews, readiness reviews, certification activities, and anomaly investigations.
- Strong understanding of aerospace quality requirements, risk management, configuration management, and configuration control processes.
- Experience reviewing certification data packages, manufacturing records, inspection reports, test data, and flight hardware verification documentation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting NASA human spaceflight programs, Commercial Crew Program (CCP), Dragon, Starliner, Orion, or similar aerospace programs.
- Experience with parachute design, qualification, testing, certification, or operational performance assessments.
- FAA Master Rigger certification.
- W.E.S.T. Explosive Safety Certification.
- Experience with supplier quality assurance, surveillance, and auditing.
- Familiarity with NASA Safety and Mission Assurance requirements, standards, and review processes.
