What are the responsibilities and job description for the Preliminary Design Review Lead/ Czar (MAVIS) position at Aegis Aerospace, Inc.?
PDR Lead/ Czar (MAVIS)
Huntsville, Alabama
Aegis Aerospace is seeking a skilled PDR Lead/ Czar to join our team in Huntsville, AL.
The Period of Performance (POP) is through 30 June 2025 but will most likely be extended through March 2026 or beyond. This is an onsite role initially with a 9x80 (9,9,9,9,8- 1st week, 9,9,9,9 off Friday-2nd week) work schedule. After two weeks role may become hybrid 2 days onsite.
Overview
Aegis Aerospace, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is seeking an experienced preliminary design review (PDR) lead to oversee and coordinate the PDR campaign for the Mars Ascent Vehicle Integrated System (MAVIS) program. This role is critical in ensuring that all subsystem reviews, design maturity assessments, and technical evaluations align with NASA, DoD, and mission assurance standards.
As the PDR lead, you will develop and manage the overall PDR schedule, facilitate technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and ensure all deliverables meet the rigorous standards of NASA systems engineering guidelines. Your leadership will directly impact the mission success of one of NASA’s most ambitious deep-space endeavors—the return of Martian samples to Earth.
Huntsville, Alabama
Aegis Aerospace is seeking a skilled PDR Lead/ Czar to join our team in Huntsville, AL.
The Period of Performance (POP) is through 30 June 2025 but will most likely be extended through March 2026 or beyond. This is an onsite role initially with a 9x80 (9,9,9,9,8- 1st week, 9,9,9,9 off Friday-2nd week) work schedule. After two weeks role may become hybrid 2 days onsite.
Overview
Aegis Aerospace, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is seeking an experienced preliminary design review (PDR) lead to oversee and coordinate the PDR campaign for the Mars Ascent Vehicle Integrated System (MAVIS) program. This role is critical in ensuring that all subsystem reviews, design maturity assessments, and technical evaluations align with NASA, DoD, and mission assurance standards.
As the PDR lead, you will develop and manage the overall PDR schedule, facilitate technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and ensure all deliverables meet the rigorous standards of NASA systems engineering guidelines. Your leadership will directly impact the mission success of one of NASA’s most ambitious deep-space endeavors—the return of Martian samples to Earth.
Did you know?
Aegis Aerospace has more than 30 years of experience in creating innovative and practical solutions to fulfill defense and space needs.
We are looking for candidates who are ready to revolutionize the space and defense industry and pioneer new technological advancements to safeguard our country.
Are you ready to Innovate, Explore, and Protect?
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the MAVIS PDR campaign schedule, ensuring alignment with program objectives
- Define and enforce PDR entry/exit criteria in compliance with NASA-STD-7009, NPR 7123.1, and mission assurance requirements
- Coordinate and facilitate PDR technical interchange meetings (TIMs), peer reviews, and formal design board presentations
- Ensure timely development, submission, and review of PDR artifacts, including design reports, trade studies, risk assessments, and verification plans
- Establish and track the Design Maturity Index (DMI) to assess subsystem readiness for PDR
- Serve as the primary liaison between subsystem leads, NASA review boards, and MAVIS leadership to ensure alignment on review expectations
Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Must presently be a US Citizen
- Must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, or related field from an accredited college is required
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in aerospace system design, systems engineering, or technical program management
- Proven experience leading or coordinating PDR/CDR or major technical reviews for NASA, DoD, or aerospace programs
- Strong understanding of NASA systems engineering standards, spaceflight development processes, and technical review criteria
- Experience establishing and monitoring a technical performance metric (TPM) such as Design Maturity Index (DMI) to track design review readiness
- Collaboration and communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage multidisciplinary teams, coordinate cross-functional reviews, and communicate effectively with NASA and industry stakeholders
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
- Master's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical, engineering, systems engineering, or a related field from an accredited college
- Previous experience supporting Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), Mars Sample Return (MSR), or Artemis programs
- Knowledge of launch vehicle development, propulsion, avionics, or space systems integration
- Experience managing high-visibility technical reviews with NASA HQ or major aerospace contractors
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat, with the ability to effectively utilize these tools for documentation, communication, and collaboration
About Aegis Aerospace
We are a woman-owned space and technology company headquartered in Houston, TX. Our primary objective is to support the Department of Defense and NASA in achieving their missions to defend the security of our country, reach new heights and to discover the unknown. We employ some of the brightest, most experienced engineering and technology experts in the U.S.
To learn more about Aegis Aerospace, visit our website at http://www.AegisAero.com
Aegis Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran).
We are a woman-owned space and technology company headquartered in Houston, TX. Our primary objective is to support the Department of Defense and NASA in achieving their missions to defend the security of our country, reach new heights and to discover the unknown. We employ some of the brightest, most experienced engineering and technology experts in the U.S.
To learn more about Aegis Aerospace, visit our website at http://www.AegisAero.com
Aegis Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran).
