{"id":1637792,"url":"https://alion.io/job/metecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs","title":"Terramechanics Engineer - METECS","company":{"id":3854042,"name":"METECS","domain":"metecs.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/metecs","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"JazzHR","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Houston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":68000,"max_usd":161000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":11930},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-01T21:40:34Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T01:14:44Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"description":"METECS is seeking a Terramechanics Engineer who is excited about lunar exploration to support high-fidelity modeling and simulation of lunar terrain. This role emphasizes physics-based approaches to soil structure interaction, ranging from continuum and discrete element methods to semi-empirical terramechanics models. This position also includes the use of multi-body dynamics and simulation frameworks for analysis, design, and validation.\nThe ideal candidate brings a strong grounding in classical terramechanics and an interest in advancing higher-fidelity modeling approaches to soil-structure interaction in extreme environments. We are looking for someone who is driven, curious, and motivated to contribute directly to the technologies that will support sustained human presence on the lunar surface.\nResponsibilities:\nDevelop, implement, and apply terrain and soil interaction models within coupled multi-body dynamics simulations.\nWork with higher-fidelity modeling approaches such as continuum mechanics (e.g., SPH-based methods) and/or discrete element method (DEM) simulations to model granular and deformable terrain behavior.\nMaintain and apply semi-empirical terramechanics models (e.g., Bekker-type formulations) as baselines, validation references, or computationally efficient tools.\nExtend terrain interaction models to support deformable or conformable contact elements, including tires or other compliant structures.\nIntegrate soil and contact models into simulation frameworks and workflows, including NASA’s Trick environment or similar tools.\nPerform simulation validation through comparison with experimental data, test results, or field measurements.\nConduct uncertainty quantification, sensitivity analyses, and model calibration to assess prediction robustness.\nCollaborate with multidisciplinary teams to interpret results, communicate model assumptions and limitations, and inform system-level decisions.\nRequired Qualifications:\nMaster's or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied physics, or a closely related technical field.\nWorking knowledge of foundational terramechanics principles, including Bekker-type soil-vehicle interaction theories.\nProficiency in C/C++ and Python for scientific computing, simulation development, and analysis.\nStrong data-analysis skills, including experience working with simulation and experimental datasets.\nExperience developing or applying physics-based models within a simulation environment.\nClear technical communication and documentation skills.\nDesired Qualifications:\nExperience with continuum mechanics-based modeling approaches (e.g., SPH or related methods).\nExperience with discrete element method (DEM) simulations or granular material modeling.\nFamiliarity with deformable or compliant contact modeling (e.g., tires, tracks, or soft structures).\nFamiliarity with NASA’s Trick simulation framework or similar simulation infrastructures.\nExperience with coupled multi-body dynamics and soil-terrain interaction simulations.\nBackground in simulation validation, uncertainty quantification, or model verification.\nExperience in aerospace, robotics, off-road vehicle dynamics, or related terrain-interaction domains.\nCitizenship or lawful permanent resident required due to federal position.\nAbout METECS:\nWe are a high-performance team providing advanced engineering, software, and analysis solutions for human space flight and terrestrial applications. We develop and integrate custom software for NASA and other government and commercial customers utilizing a wide variety of in-house, commercial, and open-source technologies. Our specialties include robotics automation, embedded systems, hardware/software integration, multibody dynamics simulations, immersive computer graphics, XR systems and advanced web-based tools.\nMETECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3932,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T21:40:34Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":80,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.801,"p_room":1,"age_days":11,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/metecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/metecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-14T01:48:38Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2659,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-15T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3854042},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3854042"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmetecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmetecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmetecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/metecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmetecs-terramechanics-engineer-metecs"}]}