Website NASA
Position Summary:
Two positions will be filled within the Research Directorate Branches at Langley Research Center (LaRC). As an Experimental Facilities Techniques Engineer you will be responsible for developing test methods, test plans, coordinating resources, and planning for the long-term availability and functionality of resources for a structures and materials mechanical testing facility. You will coordinate with researchers, technician workforce management, and projects to ensure requirements are met.
Key Responsibilities:
- Facilitates development of testing requirements, plans, schedules, costing, and resource requirements for various projects and investigations that require use of NASA mechanical testing capabilities.
- Develops methods to manipulate and visualize large data sets that result from experimental testing.
- Develops long-term plans for repair, maintenance, advocates for funding and the acquisition of new equipment for mechanical testing laboratories to ensure facilities are available and capable to meet evolving program needs.
- Conducts experiments in support of NASA programs, including problems in durability and damage tolerance of metallic and composite materials.
- Conducts experimental investigations into fatigue and fracture response of materials and structures subjected to static, cyclic and impact loads under representative environments.
- Supports development of safety procedures and best practices for performing mechanical test.
- Supports development of experimental methods needed to predict structural response, fracture, failure, and damage in advanced metallic and composite materials including hybrid materials and structural concepts.
- Supports the advocacy of laboratory facilities through the development of demonstration materials and by scheduling and conducting laboratory tours.
Required Education & Experience:
To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level
- Developing novel test procedures and methods to examine the effect of complex mechanical loads on structural materials and/or structural concepts for use in aerospace vehicles;
- Developing complex test plans for mechanical test procedures that require advanced characterization methods to be used, such as digital image correlation, non-destructive evaluation, or strain gage arrays;
- Designing of complex test setups to accommodate complex loading to simulate representative loads in mechanical test samples.