Spacecraft Lighting Systems Engineer
METECS
- Houston, TX
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Contribute to the specification, design, and development of advanced lighting systems for spacecraft interiors (e.g., crew cabins, control panels) and exteriors (e.g., docking lights, surface illumination).
- Serve as a Lighting Subject Matter Expert (SME) for research, development, and verification of lighting systems for human-rated vehicles
- Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and human factors engineering teams to integrate lighting systems into spacecraft architectures, ensuring compatibility with power, thermal, and structural constraints.
- Optimize lighting for variable conditions, including low-gravity, radiation, and power efficiency, while addressing human-centric aspects like circadian rhythm support and task-specific illumination.
- Plan and execute testing protocols (e.g., thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI) to ensure lighting systems perform reliably in space-like conditions.
- Stay current with the newest lighting and modeling technologies available.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, capable of interacting with stakeholders in all roles and levels of the organization.
- Experience in a lighting-related field or with adjacent spaceflight systems.
- Experience with lighting systems for harsh environments (e.g., automotive exterior lights, aviation runway systems, or industrial hazardous area lighting).
- Familiarity with spacecraft lighting applications, such as habitat illumination, navigation lights, or payload lighting, though not required.
- Knowledge of radiation effects on lighting components and mitigation strategies.
- Experience with human factors in lighting design (e.g., circadian lighting, glare reduction).
- Understanding of space mission requirements or standards (e.g., MIL-STD, NASA-STD).
- Familiarity with electrical system design, including power distribution, dimming controls, and thermal management.