Research Materials Engineer, AST, Aerospace Materials

Role details

As a Research Material Engineer, AST, Aerospace Materials in the Durability, Damage Tolerance, and Reliability Branch, you will lead computational and experimental studies on Process-Intensive Metallic Materials, develop models to predict material behavior, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and communicate research findings to advance material performance, reliability, and safety for aerospace applications.

- Conduct computational modeling of advanced materials for aerospace applications, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and coatings. - Develop predictive frameworks for material behavior, integrating empirical, theoretical, and numerical approaches to advance computational materials science for aerospace materials. - Design, execute, and process data from experiments to calibrate and validate models and characterize Process-Intensive Metallic Materials (e.g., processed using Laser Powder Bed Fusion) supporting reliability and durability research. - Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and mature computational materials research as the foundation for engineering solutions across diverse aerospace structures and systems. - Interpret and implement the results of testing, nondestructive evaluation and high-fidelity metrology to calibrate and validate computational materials simulations of the properties and performance of materials in aeronautical and space environments. - Innovate and implement new computational and experimental methods for material characterization, properties and performance assessment. - Manage technical aspects of contracted research, ensuring compliance with NASA standards and project requirements. - Prepare and present technical reports and research findings to stakeholders, advancing NASA’s mission through knowledge dissemination.

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Conducting computational materials modeling of process-structure-property/performance (PSP/P) relationships for Process-Intensive Metallic Materials for aerospace applications; Developing or applying methods for predicting the damage tolerance and life of aerospace Process-Intensive Metallic Materials; Processing and interpreting high-fidelity nondestructive evaluation data of Process-Intensive Metallic Materials to define the initial damage and track damage evolution state for analyses.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Super-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of super intelligent (SI) or SI-assisted tools during the application process.

Application deadline: 2026-11-12