Training systems technician (cos-2054-001)

ASCEND Aerospace & Technology, LLC (ASCEND) is an All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) Joint Venture (JV) between Aerodyne Industries, LLC and Amentum Technology Inc. (pending name change to Amentum Technology, Inc.), that leverages our 12+ year collaboration as award-winning NASA contractors. Through our ASCEND partner companies, we have 62+ years of experience working for NASA and currently manage 5,500 employees across nine NASA Centers. With this foundation of expertise, we are dedicated to helping every mission succeed—today and into the future.

Job Description

This role supports day-to-day astronaut and flight-crew training operations in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) for COSMOS at Johnson Space Center. The Training Systems Technician plays a direct, hands-on role in training the astronauts who will fly NASA's most critical human spaceflight missions, including the International Space Station (ISS), Orion, Commercial Crew (CST/Boeing), and Commercial LEO/EVA programs - helping get NASA back to the Moon. Training Systems Technicians set up astronaut training classes inside full-scale, made-to-scale spacecraft mockups and prototype training environments, then configure, operate, troubleshoot, restore, and maintain that training equipment while coordinating directly with instructors and customers.

Description of Duties

The Training Systems Technician is responsible for ensuring training areas and equipment are safely configured and ready for scheduled use. The role combines hands-on setup/restore work, equipment operation, real-time customer support, troubleshooting, communications, and disciplined response to off-nominal conditions.

Successful candidates will:

• Set up and tear down training configurations for SVMF classes, tests, evaluations, mission-support activities, and special events.
• Retrieve, stage, inspect, install, configure, operate, restore, and store assigned training equipment and mockup hardware.
• Support ISS, Orion, CST/Boeing, EVA, Commercial LEO, and other assigned mockups/programs in accordance with current procedures and configuration requirements.
• Verify work areas and interfaces including power, data, audio/video, communications, loose equipment, access, and other setup requirements within role scope.
• Provide clear status and operations communications to instructors, engineering, and supervision; identify off-nominal conditions without exceeding role authority.
• Troubleshoot operational equipment and customer trouble calls; safely secure unsafe conditions, preserve configuration/evidence, and initiate or escalate discrepancies through the correct technical channel.
• Review negative evaluations and support, incident/failure follow-up, minor repairs, repaired/new product integration, and restoration of training capability as directed.
• Recognize hazards, exercise stop-work authority, and perform assigned emergency-response actions during suited and unsuited activities.
• Operate forklifts, manlifts, overhead cranes/rigging, scaffolds, or other specialized equipment only when individually qualified and endorsed.
• Maintain training equipment, work areas, records, and readiness to support scheduled training and changing customer requirements.

Job Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent. COSMOS level I normally supports 0-4 years of related experience; level II requires 4 years; level III requires 8 years. Final level will be based on relevant experience and job scope.
• Ability to follow technical procedures/checklists, configuration requirements, safety rules, and direction from instructors, engineering, and supervision.
• Ability to recognize expected versus actual equipment behavior, place equipment in a safe condition, and communicate/escalate discrepancies accurately.
• Must be able to obtain a NASA Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Badge for NASA credentials.
• Must be able to complete SVMF common-core/facility orientation, hazard/emergency response, configuration/work-control awareness, FOD/tool-control training, role OJT, and assigned program/mockup familiarization before independent authorization.
• Must be able to meet role-applicable medical/physiological and task-specific safety requirements and support occasional extended-hour, off-shift, or weekend work when scheduled.

Desired Requirements

• Hands-on experience in technical operations, equipment setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, manufacturing, industrial, military, aerospace, laboratory/test, or comparable environments appropriate to the selected level.
• Prior astronaut-training, aerospace test, military operations, or comparable mission-critical technical experience.
• Experience with spacecraft mockups, training systems, test operations, audio/video and communications setup, or real-time operational support.
• Current forklift, manlift, crane/rigging, or related equipment qualifications.
• Mechanical/electrical aptitude and experience with minor hardware installation/repair or electronic assemblies.
• Experience supporting time-critical customers where schedule changes must be managed without compromising safety or configuration control.
• Experience with Office 365, ServiceNow, electronic discrepancy systems, scheduling tools, or training-equipment inventories.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

Final compensation is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors, including the candidate’s educational background, specialized technical expertise, and relevant professional experience. We also consider internal equity, prevailing market data, and specific contractual or funding requirements to ensure competitive and equitable offer alignment.