Senior Research Associate: Aerospace Engineering

OUR STATEMENT

The San Jose State University Research Foundation (SJSURF) is committed to building a work environment where everyone can show up as their own self and have an opportunity to contribute, develop, and advance in their career. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are core values of the organization. We strive to attract, retain, and develop employees who reflect the community and society where we work and live.

The Research Foundation aims to develop a culture where everyone feels welcome, shares their views, and where differences in backgrounds and perspectives are seen as adding value. The Psychology Department at San Jose State University is involved in collaborative research efforts with civil service scientists from the U.S. Army's Technology Development Directorate (TDD) Research Group at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA.

This is a senior-level engineering position with TDD focused on Flight Test, Flight Controls and Autonomy as it relates to the Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) and Contested Logistics (CL) modernization priorities. The work is centered on research and development efforts of rotorcraft flight control technologies and operations for both manned and unmanned systems and optionally piloted air-vehicles.

• Perform research and development in the areas of flight controls, handling qualities, and autonomy for manned and unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
• Provide subject matter expertise to program offices and industry partners in the aforementioned technical areas.
• Support the Rotorcraft In-Flight Laboratory (RIFL) team with the development, validation and flight testing of the new RASCAL X Vehicle Mission Management Computer (VMMC).
• Mentor junior engineers, transfer knowledge, and help ensure continuity of branch operations.
• Apply knowledge and experience to conduct and guide further development of the Rotorcraft Aircrews Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) Development Facility (DF)
• Support development of the Ames Gen Hel model of the UH-60 Black Hawk in support of DF and System Integration Laboratory (SIL) simulations
• Perform validation of flight control software tools which include CONDUIT and RIPTIDE.
• Support and contribute to software development activities related to flight control software tools (CONDUIT, RIPTIDE);
  Provide assessment and feedback to software change proposals.
• Collaborate with government and contractor teams to integrate modeling and simulation tools into Army programs
• Document methods, results, and present findings to support technical and program reviews'

Reports to the Project Director. Interacts with Foundation research staff and civil service staff on a daily basis via telephone, email, Teams, and/or in-person. Telework from an approved location is permitted.

• MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field required.
• Education in the following areas:
  Numerical analysis and statistical methods, flight dynamics and control; aircraft simulation; classical and optimal control; linear control theory.
• Experience in an applied research setting is highly desired.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work on collaborative teams or independently.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research.
• General knowledge of flight control and fixed/rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aerial system (UAS) controls.
• Demonstrated strong competency in MATLAB, Simulink, Python, and/or C/C++.
• Experience conducting design reviews, peer reviews and technical meetings.

• Must be willing to travel domestically and internationally.
• Located at the NASA Ames…