Space Radiation Research Engineer (NASA HHPC)

The Space Radiation Section at Leidos currently has an opening for a Research Engineer to work at our Houston, Texas location. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience helping the NASA Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC2). The successful candidate will support NASA’s Space Radiation Analysis Group in the development and implementation of radiation sensors for manned space flight. The position requires expertise in technologies used for radiation measurements.

In this role, you will provide radiation instrument research and development support for the Space Radiation Task Order on the Human Health and Performance Contract.  You will support the Space Radiation Analysis Group efforts for the NASA Space Medicine Division.   The research engineer is expected to provide support for the space radiation group’s development and implementation of radiation sensors for manned space flight. The position requires expertise in technologies used for radiation measurements

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support development, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting of radiation detector systems for human spaceflight
• Work with semiconductor detectors, scintillators, hybrid pixel detectors, or related radiation sensor technologies
• Develop test plans, procedures, test setups, verification approaches, and data analysis methods
• Perform functional, development, certification, acceptance, calibration, and interface testing
• Use laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, high-voltage supplies, power supplies, pulse generators, and data acquisition systems
• Analyze detector and electronics data using Python, ROOT, MATLAB, Excel, or related tools
• Assume ownership of all science considerations for key elements of hardware
• Use project requirement and verification documents to develop test plans, test strategies/planning, test set-ups and procedures
• Complete functional, development, certification, acceptance, and interface testing
• Correlate test results and complete data analysis as required in a report format
• Determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes and incorporate the results into system specifications
• Interface with purchasing, quality, logistics, other HHPC2 stakeholders, and NASA stakeholders
• Develop test procedures and perform troubleshooting on both ground and flight systems
• Working with scientific equipment (oscilloscopes, high voltage supplies, powers supplies) in a lab setting
• Maintaining good laboratory work practices (ESD & FOD mitigation, etc.)
• Process hardware at Johnson Space Center
• Perform other duties and assignments as required

You bring experience to aid in the research, design and evaluation of radiation detection system for human space flight. The incumbent will also support the fabrication, assembly and test of the sub-systems/systems, support reviews of science and design requirements and proposed verification methods.

• BS/MS in electrical, nuclear, or electrical engineering, radiation detection, medical or space physics, or a related field and at least 2 years' experience
• Experience working with radiation detection systems (semiconductor detectors, scintillators, etc.)
• Experience working in analog and digital signal processing, including op amp circuit design and pulse analysis techniques (pulse height analysis, noise analysis, discriminator/comparator design, pulse shape discrimination, etc.).
• Experience with scientific programming and data analysis, especially Python and/or ROOT
• Ability to troubleshoot detector, electronics, software, and test-system issues.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills (Oral and Written)
• Experience working in an electronics lab setting. Including familiarity with ESD safe practices, familiarity with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DC power supplies, etc.).

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in electrical, nuclear, or electrical engineering, radiation detection, medical or space physics or related field
• amiliarity with Timepix, Medipix or other hybrid pixel detector systems
• Experience with NASA/JSC hardware development, processing, testing, or flight hardware practices
• Experience handling radioactive sources
• Experience with accelerator or beamline testing
• Experience with radiation transport or detector response modeling
• Knowledge of NASA Standard 3001 as applicable radiation requirements
• Demonstrated ability to grow into technical ownership or project leadership

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Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.