Title:
Human Performance Engineer

The purpose of this position is to support the Human Physiology, Performance, Protection, and Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This multi-disciplinary laboratory performs research and provides operational expertise in several technical areas, including Exercise Physiology & Performance, Space Suits & Exploration Operations, and Applied Injury Biomechanics, to address health and performance risks for astronauts on the International Space Station and for future human exploration missions. This position will primarily support the Applied Injury Biomechanics project, which was established to develop reliable methods to predict injury for spacecraft landing scenarios and to establish injury limits for future vehicles to protect astronauts from impact injuries during dynamic phases of flight. A combination of human crash-injury dataset analysis, finite element modeling, and laboratory sled tests with Anthropomorphic Test Devices are used. This position will be required to conduct finite element simulations, coordinate science across internal and external stakeholders and collaborators, assist with data collection and data analysis, and prepare technical documents.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan; must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the Company’s safety policies and rules and must be willing to report safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel
• Responsible for compliance with the Quality Assurance Plan, policies and procedures
• Responsible for completing all assigned training
• Work with the NASA H-3PO Lab Lead and Technical Area Integrators to implement research activities outlined in the Integrated EVA Human Research Plan, the Exercise and Performance Strategic Roadmap, and the Applied Injury Biomechanics Path to Risk Reduction
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders and collaborators, including planning meetings, coordinating scientific deliverables, and assisting with tracking schedule and budget
• Document meeting minutes and track actions for the project team
• Develop and maintain study documents, including test plans, test readiness review documents, Institutional Review Board proposals, etc.
• Perform equipment set-up, calibration, and monitoring for tests/evaluations
• Collect data during impact testing studies (will require occasional travel)
• Create, debug, and maintain finite element models for spaceflight applied injury biomechanics
• Simulate impact events using finite element models including the Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) simplified human models
• Analyze study data using previously developed MATLAB scripts, and develop new data analysis tools as needed
• Assist with development of spaceflight standards and requirements related to applied injury biomechanics
• Organize, manage, and archive study data and documentation
• Assist with development of technical presentations
• Prepare technical reports and assist with development of scientific manuscripts
• Provide inputs to monthly technical status reports
• Archive data per NASA policy
• Assist with development of grant proposals to perform relevant research
• Demonstrate a positive problem-solving attitude with an enthusiasm for working as part of an exceptional team
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to the customer and team
• Serve as a test subject for protocol and hardware evaluations on a volunteer basis
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education/Experience

REQUIRED:

• Must be a US citizen or permanent resident
• A bachelor’s degree in biomedical or mechanical engineering or related field and at least 10 years of applicable experience or a combination of graduate-level education and experience is required

DESIRED:

• A Ph. D. or a master’s degree in biomedical engineering or related field and at least 5 years of experience is highly desired
• Knowledge of human physiology, the scientific process, and research design/implementation
• Experience conducting or coordinating human research
• Knowledge of NASA mission operations

Skills/Training

REQUIRED:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member; employee will be required to work and communicate with human test subjects, astronauts, personnel across multiple JSC directorates and external collaborators
• Expertise in the field of injury biomechanics
• Expertise in vehicle/occupant finite element modeling
• Experience using the GHBMC human finite element models in impact scenarios
• Proficiency in MATLAB programming
• Demonstrated skill in preparation of technical reports
• Highly motivated with developed organizational skills; must be able to work independently with minimal oversight and support multiple projects
• Demonstrated real-time problem-solving skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, both formal and informal, including oral presentations
• Standard PC and Microsoft Office skills for preparation of documents and presentations

DESIRED:

• Experience in R, Python, C programming, or similar
• Experience working with Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs)
• Knowledge of statistical analysis methods
• Experience contributing to proposals and manuscripts

Some relocation monies available

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.