Systems Engineer - Laboratory Systems Engineering & Integration

Systems Engineer – Laboratory Systems Engineering & Integration (XLab)

LOCATION: NASA Johnson Space CenterJOB STATUS: Full Time, Onsite

CLEARANCE: Background check & U.S. Citizenship required

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!     

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer – Laboratory Systems Engineering & Integration (XLab) support the development, integration, and sustained operation of XLab, a multi-user test and integration laboratory supporting NASA and commercial space exploration initiatives. XLab is envisioned as a shared technical environment enabling development, integration, testing, and verification of systems and technologies supporting lunar surface operations and future exploration architectures.

The successful candidate will provide systems engineering and integration (SE&I) leadership across laboratory infrastructure, test systems, and customer-provided hardware and software, with particular emphasis on radio frequency (RF) communications, avionics, software integration, and associated interfaces.

This position requires a technically capable systems engineer who can operate effectively in a dynamic, multi-customer environment, balancing customer objectives with laboratory capabilities, operational constraints, technical risks, and long-term sustainability. The selected individual will serve as a key technical interface between laboratory personnel, NASA stakeholders, commercial partners, and customer engineering teams, advocating for technically sound solutions while enabling successful execution of customer objectives.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.

• Demonstrated experience performing systems engineering, systems integration, or technical engineering leadership in complex hardware/software environments.

• Working knowledge of RF communications, avionics systems, software integration, or related electrical/electronic systems, with sufficient technical breadth to evaluate cross-disciplinary interfaces and integration challenges.

• Experience developing or evaluating technical requirements, interface definitions, integration plans, verification approaches, and engineering trade studies.

• Demonstrated ability to assess technical risks, evaluate competing requirements, and develop practical engineering solutions within established resource and schedule constraints.

• Experience coordinating technical activities across multiple engineering disciplines, organizations, customers, or stakeholders.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical issues, constraints, risks, and recommendations to both technical and nontechnical audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound engineering judgment, and constructively challenge assumptions or proposed approaches when warranted.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/ SKILLS

• ​ Experience with NASA, Department of Defense, aerospace, or commercial spaceflight programs.

• Experience supporting integration and testing of RF communications, command and data handling, avionics, flight software, ground support equipment, or hardware-in-the-loop systems.

• Familiarity with laboratory operations, test facilities, integration laboratories, or other shared technical infrastructure supporting multiple users or programs.

• Experience with spacecraft, lunar surface systems, exploration architectures, or other complex system-of-systems environments.

• Familiarity with configuration management, technical baseline control, engineering change processes, and integration readiness reviews.

• Experience working with external customers, commercial partners, or geographically distributed engineering organizations.

• Experience conducting technical trade studies, resolving competing stakeholder priorities, or negotiating engineering solutions across organizational boundaries.

• Familiarity with NASA systems engineering principles, technical review processes, and applicable engineering standards.

RESPONSIBILITES

• Lead systems engineering and integration activities supporting the development, implementation, and evolution of XLab capabilities, infrastructure, and customer test configurations.

• Coordinate integration of RF communications, avionics, flight and ground software, instrumentation, and supporting test equipment within a shared laboratory environment.

• Develop, evaluate, and maintain technical requirements, interface definitions, integration plans, and verification approaches for laboratory systems and customer applications.

• Evaluate compatibility and interoperability of customer-provided equipment, software, and interfaces with existing laboratory infrastructure and capabilities.

• Identify technical dependencies, integration risks, resource constraints, and potential conflicts associated with concurrent customer activities.

• Support laboratory architecture development, capability planning, technical readiness assessments, troubleshooting, and resolution of integration challenges.

• Collaborate with laboratory configuration management personnel to establish and maintain technical baselines, interface documentation, equipment configurations, and change control processes.

• Assess proposed laboratory modifications and customer integration requests for potential impacts to existing capabilities, other users, safety, security, and operational continuity.

Multi-Customer Coordination & Laboratory Advocacy

• Serve as a primary technical interface between XLab personnel and NASA, commercial, and other external customers regarding integration requirements, laboratory capabilities, and technical constraints.

• Facilitate technical discussions and negotiate integration approaches that balance customer objectives, laboratory resources, schedules, and established technical baselines.

• Evaluate competing customer requirements and priorities, developing technically defensible recommendations that account for broader laboratory impacts and long-term objectives.

• Represent and advocate for laboratory technical interests during planning, requirements development, design reviews, and integration discussions.

• Establish clear expectations regarding laboratory capabilities, technical limitations, customer responsibilities, integration readiness, and execution timelines.

• Identify and communicate the consequences of proposed technical decisions, including impacts to laboratory availability, configuration stability, future capabilities, and other customer activities.

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