Flight Mission Support Scientist

Job Description

Description

Job Description:

Leidos is hiring a Flight Mission Support Scientist (MSS) under the REMIS Program to support research missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in conjunction with NASA. An MSS works with a Mission Lead as part of a team to assess, develop, and implement microgravity experiments designed by Principal Investigator (PI) Teams. An MSS may be assigned to different projects within REMIS, but will predominately support Rodent Research (RR) Missions. Other projects may involve physical or life science experiments as needed. An MSS will work with multiple groups across the U.S. to integrate and facilitate the functions of the various stakeholders involved in the execution of the space research such as defining and coordinating hardware needs, obtaining approvals at multiple facilities for experiment execution, and providing inputs to resources used by astronauts for experiment performance on the ISS. MSSs will help develop crew procedures, plan ground and in-flight activities, assist in crew training, and provide on-orbit operations support. MSSs are typically assigned to several missions and projects simultaneously and are responsible for representing the science, acting as liaisons between the investigators (or their representatives) and the project interfaces, and building kits for use in microgravity.

Primary Responsibilities

• Understand science requirements developed by the science sponsor and/or principal investigator, work with mission team to define methods for implementing requirements in microgravity, and perform tasks to execute the experiment on the ground and in space.
• Serve as a science liaison/advocate between principal investigators (PI) (or their representatives) and the REMIS RR and KERMIT Project, responsible for coordinating with PI Teams regarding schedules and implementation plans/issues, and communicating expectations to PI Teams.
• Provide science discipline expertise to assigned missions including: (1) Definition and management of science requirements; (2) Science support at meetings; (3) On-Orbit Operations Console support for assigned projects/missions, as required, which may require participation in activities outside of normal business hours, including overnight shifts and/or on-call support.
• Proactive schedule and technical risk management for all aspects of science operations support.
• Write animal use protocols by coordinating with the PI Team and mission team, provide updates as required, and ensure that all training and data collection activities are in conformance with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) animal use approval terms, for ground-based as well as in-flight activities involving animals.
• Prepare for and support crew training by ensuring facilities, consumables, and hardware are available as required.
• Create and validate detailed experiment procedures, checklists, and cue cards (for both nominal and off-nominal scenarios).
• Adhere to appropriate safety, quality, and environmental practice, as well as business ethics practices.
• Develop and demonstrate the interpersonal skills required to maintain productive working relationships with co-workers, management, stakeholders, and the customer.
• Personnel may be exposed to live animals, animal dander, sharp medical supplies, steam and hot water, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other hazards associated with rodent research.
• May occasionally be required to travel to other NASA-affiliated sites across the U.S. in support of mission-related activities.
• Assist in building kits with consumables used for use by the astronauts during in-flight activities.
• Understand hardware and software capabilities for an ISS microscope, supporting microscopy console sessions to operate the microscope from the ground, and provide general science support for users requesting use of microscope.

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Biological Sciences or Biomedical Engineering (other science or engineering degrees considered with relevant experience) and 0-2 years relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree and/or previous internship/co-op experience
• Familiarity with NASA project development and flight/ payload operations processes
• Demonstrated leadership ability, excellent oral/written communication & problem solving skills.
• Previous experience in a team environment and ability to multitask.

Pay Range: