Department: College of Science
Classification: Post Doc 12 month
Job Category: Postdoctoral Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa
sponsorship
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and
experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
George Mason University (GMU), a Carnegie Research I institution,
is Virginia’s largest and most diverse university with more
than 38,000 students. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is part
of the Washington DC metropolitan area offering easy access to the
scientific and political resources of the nation’s capital.
George Mason University is committed to advancing inclusion,
access, and equal opportunity throughout our community. We believe
that a broad range of voices, cultures, and perspectives brings
vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community.
The Landolt Mission team is responsible for developing and
executing a NASA space-based mission through coordinated work
across science, payload, spacecraft bus, software, systems
engineering, integration and test, mission assurance, and project
management functions. The unit provides an interdisciplinary
research and training environment for faculty, postdoctoral
researchers, engineers, staff, and students working collaboratively
with federal, academic, commercial, and other external partners.
The Landolt Mission team supports mission formulation, systems
engineering, subsystem coordination, technical trade studies,
requirements development, verification and validation planning,
assembly, integration and testing, technical documentation, mission
reviews, and mission operations planning. The unit works
collaboratively across payload, spacecraft bus, software, ground
systems, mission operations, science, and programmatic interfaces
to advance mission objectives and meet NASA requirements.
Statement on Building an Inclusive Culture: George Mason University
College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing
inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM
community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an
organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and
civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and
perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to
an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in
academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to
attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission
and vision.
About the Position:
This position is sponsored by the NASA Landolt mission. The
Postdoctoral Research Mission Systems Engineer (MSE) duties include
(at a different level of involvement and responsibility):
- Contribute to all aspects of mission design, development, and
testing by coordinating among subsystem element teams, including
payload, software, and hardware teams. Coordinate procedural and
regulatory compliance aspects of mission alongside technical
aspects. Conceive, conduct, and communicate about necessary trade
studies among or within subsystem elements and payload.
Organize, oversee, and participate in assembly, integration,
and testing of individual components, modules, and satellite bus.
As necessary, coordinates and participates in integration of
assembled satellite bus with launch vehicle and pad
facilities.
Identify, support/coordinate, and/or operate relevant
simulations and analysis tools to predict, track, and redirect key
mission performance parameters, including, but not necessarily
limited to, subsystem or overall mass, volume, and power budgets;
scientific performance; and risk throughout the system lifecycle.
Communicate decision points, outcomes, and summaries upward to all
other members of the Landolt Mission team.
Document activities for the Landolt Mission through mission
reviews, mission reports, mission documentation, technical
publications in a manner consistent with space-based projects and
published results in professional scientific journals.
Work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment
composed of scientists, engineers, students, project management and
support staff at multiple institutions, federal, academic, and
commercial partners.
Responsibilities:
Execute NASA Landolt Mission throughout its Lifecycle:
- Lead internal Landolt Mission technical coordination;
- Work closely with mission leadership and major
stakeholders;
- Co-manage daily operations and resource utilization; and
- Provide recommendations regarding technical priorities and
resource utilization.
Mission Systems Development:
- Conduct and/or oversee trade studies and subsystem
analyses;
- Guide development of Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for all
subsystems, including hardware, software, payload, and bus
subsystems;
- Guide, oversee, and participate in all assembly, integration,
and test (AI&T) tasks leading to successful integration of
payload, bus, software, and complete space vehicle;
- Identify and comply with all applicable NASA space systems
requirements and procedures; and
- Carry out or oversee system modeling and characterizations of
system components and subsystems.
Research Support:
- Conduct mission-relevant research and technical investigations
under the guidance of the faculty mentor and Landolt Mission
leadership to advance mission science, systems engineering,
instrument development, and/or spaceflight technology
objectives;
- Develop, execute, analyze, and document research studies,
simulations, models, trade studies, and technical analyses that
support Landolt Mission design decisions, performance assessment,
risk reduction, and technology maturation; and
- Review and synthesize relevant scientific, engineering, NASA,
and spaceflight literature, standards, and technical documentation
to inform mission planning, system development, and research
priorities.
Reporting:
- Co-lead the writing and production of formal technical reports,
progress reports, and reviews for NASA (e.g., PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR,
ORR) in a manner consistent with NASA’s documentation requirements,
standards, and guidelines (e.g., NPR 7120.5/8);
- Write or co-write papers for professional journals and
conferences;
- Attend meetings with sponsors and collaborators, federal,
commercial, and academic partners when necessary, occasionally
requiring travel outside of the DC metropolitan area; and
- Assist in the pursuit of new and continued George Mason
University Space Center projects and funding support (e.g., new,
extended, and follow-on missions/projects).
Required Qualifications:
- Terminal degree in a related field (i.e., PhD or equivalent in
Aerospace Engineering or Systems Engineering or related field with
an emphasis on space systems development);
- Experience conducting systems engineering for a relevant
project in the space domain or a relevant domain;
- Knowledge of and ability to conduct systems engineering for a
relevant project in the space domain or a relevant domain;
- Familiarity with systems engineering procedures and practices;
and
- Familiarity with or knowledge of NASA procedures and practices,
or with procedures and practices for other spacefaring
organizations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with hybrid missions, operations planning, space
hardware, electronics, embedded system development, and NASA
procedures and practices;
- Experience in the design, development, and testing of space
instruments, payloads, or electronic systems;
- Knowledge of and ability to implement or follow NASA procedures
and practices;
- Knowledge of remote sensing missions, technical knowledge of
optics, laser systems, space flight hardware, and/or embedded
software for space applications are desirable; and
- Knowledge of hybrid missions and/or operations planning.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for the
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mission Systems
Engineer at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/.
Complete and submit the online application to include three
professional references with contact information, and provide a CV
and a statement of interest and experience.
Posting Open Date: October 7, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: December 1, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/