Electrical Controls Engineer

Job Title: Electrical Controls Engineer

Location: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (NFAC)

Job Family Code: O - Engineering

Function/Branch: Engineering/NFAC

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt

Grade: H08 (OC0803) – H09 (OC0930)

Salary Range: H08 – $134,000 – $178,000; H09 – $157,000 – $209,000 per year

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an Electrical Controls Engineer at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC), home of the world’s largest wind tunnels, located at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. The successful candidate joins an integrated team supporting Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS II) for the United States Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC).

Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate must be available to work any shift; shift determination will be based on the priority of work at the time of reporting to work.

The successful candidate will join the NFAC electrical and controls engineering team, providing technical guidance in designing, operating, and maintaining existing complex facility power and control systems. The complex systems drive the fans that supply airflow through the wind tunnels and control test-model support systems. You will support planning and execution of extensive capital projects to sustain, upgrade, or modernize all critical facility and fan drive electrical and control systems.

The NFAC team performs large‑scale, subsonic wind tunnel testing, furthering research and development of diverse technologies. NFAC tests rotorcraft such as helicopters, tilt‑rotors, and eVTOLs;
Mars and other space parachute systems; drag improvements on large semi‑tractor‑trailer trucks; wind turbines for power generation; and many other applications for the military and commercial sectors.

• Provide technical guidance to operate, troubleshoot, repair, maintain, and upgrade existing facility power systems (drives, motors, generators, transformers, power distribution switchgears, variable frequency drives, etc.)
• Support development, design, troubleshooting, and maintenance of automated control systems
• Collaborate with customers and the test team to establish design requirements and implement facility modifications as required to meet test objectives
• Project‑manage facility electrical and control system modernization or sustainment projects, including development, planning, budgeting, scheduling, execution, and close-out
• Develop, implement, and execute common work processes, instructions, guidelines, procedures, Statements of Work, design drawing packages, and checklists as required
• Ensure preventive maintenance programs for optimizing reliability of facility electrical and control systems are technically adequate
• Collaborate with and guide Electricians, Instrumentation technicians, and other craft in design, operation, and maintenance of facility projects and systems
• Prepare and/or review engineering studies and reports
• Wear company‑issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy
• Perform other related duties as required

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Controls Engineering, or a relevant technical field from an ABET‑accredited program
• Grade 07 (H07):
  Minimum of 2 years of progressive and relevant experience in engineering or a related technical field. Additional technical education can be substituted for experience.
• Current United States citizenship required

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent troubleshooting skills
• Knowledge of electromechanical systems, engineering calculations, and applications of engineering methods and materials
• Basic knowledge of major industry or regulatory standards and design criteria pertinent to electrical and controls engineering
• Education and/or work experience in low, medium, or high‑voltage power distribution
• Education and/or work experience with motor‑generator sets
• Education or work experience with computer‑aided engineering (CAE)/computer‑aided design (CAD)…