TCS and ECLSS Certification Engineer

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity. Mission We are developing, manufacturing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable spacecraft which will carry cargo to space stations and potentially humans in the longer run. We are seeking an experienced Certification Engineer to join our Thermal Control System & Environmental Control and Life Support System team. You will be responsible for leading, coordinating, and driving the certification and verification closure activities of the Nyx Thermal Control System (TCS) and Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) in support of vehicle qualification, NASA certification, and flight acceptance. The role serves as the primary focal point between the TCS & ECLSS teams, System Engineering, Verification & Validation, Chief Engineering Office, AIT, Program, Safety Engineering, and external stakeholders. The Certification Engineer ensures that TCS and ECLSS requirements are properly allocated, verified, traceable, and closed with appropriate evidence, while maintaining alignment with NASA SSP requirements, Data Item Deliverables (DIDs), verification plans, and Safety Review Panel expectations. The position requires a strong understanding of spacecraft systems engineering, thermal engineering, verification methodologies, qualification logic, and agency review processes to ensure that technical evidence across both subsystems is complete, credible, traceable, and accepted by the certification authorities. Key Responsibilities Lead Thermal & ECLSS Verification Closure Activities • Own the verification closure process for TCS and ECLSS, from subsystem level through spacecraft-level qualification. • Ensure TCS and ECLSS requirements are allocated to appropriate verification methods. • Coordinate the preparation, execution, and closure of verification events with analysts, product owners, subsystem engineers, system engineers, and test teams. • Maintain consistency between the TCS & ECLSS verification strategies and spacecraft-level verification planning. • Ensure analyses, test reports, inspection records, NCRs, requirement justifications, and review documentation are available to support certification closure. • Support the preparation of qualification, certification, and flight readiness reviews. • Ensure consistency of verification logic and evidence across TCS and ECLSS, particularly for requirements, interfaces, functions, or verification activities involving both subsystems. Manage NASA Requirement Compliance and Verification Product • Act as the TCS & ECLSS focal point for NASA certification and verification activities . • Coordinate the closure of applicable NASA SSP requirements and associated verification products, including the DIDs. • Ensure consistency between analyses, test results, requirements, qualification rationale, and certification documentation across both subsystems. • Maintain alignment between NASA verification expectations and TEC verification approaches. • Coordinate with TCS and ECLSS technical owners to ensure certification evidence is technically robust and delivered according to program and customer milestones. Lead Thermal & ECLSS Contributions to Safety Reviews • Prepare and coordinate TCS & ECLSS contributions to NASA Safety Reviews. • Ensure TCS and ECLSS hazards, controls, verification evidence, and closure rationale are fully documented. • Support and coordinate the development of safety review presentations and supporting technical packages. • Ensure consistency between hazard reports, verification evidence, and qualification activities. • Coordinate with Safety Engineering and subsystem technical owners to ensure certification evidence supporting hazard-control verification is identified and