Astronaut Rescue and Recovery Mission Planning Support Specialist

General information

Requisition # R66886 Locations USA-FL-Patrick AFB Posting Date 03/30/2026 Security Clearance Required None Remote Type Onsite Time Type Full time

Description & Requirements

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MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Astronaut Rescue and Recovery Mission Planning Support Specialist to join our team at Patrick Space Force Base (PSFB), Florida.

MANTECH’s Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) team is integrated with and directly supports the First Air Force Detachment 3 (1AF Det 3) mission of HSFS for all National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) crewed space programs - Soyuz, Artemis and Commercial Crew - across the Planning, Training, Execution, and Sustainment phases of the HSFS mission. 

The candidate shall support work on-site at PSFB to support employment of Dept of War (DoW) assets and coordinate with attached forces and interagency partners to facilitate astronaut rescue (following either an Artemis or CCP contingency land landing or water landing) and nominal end-of-mission recovery in support of DoW Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) mission.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist reviewing and updating Operations and Training plan documents for the 1 AF, Det 3 Support Operations Center.
• Assist coordination efforts for medical, logistical and personnel support at alert site locations.
• Facilitate coordination with DoW, other Government Agencies and International Search and Rescue agencies to provide support for training, exercise, development test and mission operations events.
• Facilitate coordination for spacecraft recovery and retrieval training, exercise, development test and mission operations events.
• Facilitate coordination and approval processes, with appropriate DoW organizations, to authorize and maintain specified contract personnel as Mission Essential Personnel in support of training and mission execution events.
• Assist developing plans for command and control training, development test, and exercise events.
• Assist the unit in conducting mission simulations and command and control exercises to support unit upgrade training and verification of tactics, techniques and procedures for rescue, recovery and retrieval missions.
• Maintain training program and equipment for the Lightweight Airborne Recovery System (LARS) On-The-Go radio system that is used in designated DoD search and rescue aircraft.
• Coordinate deployment, onsite operations and redeployment logistics with attached forces in support of crewed missions.
• Assist in tracking and verify completion of required tasks leading up to crewed mission events.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 8+ years of experience in a DoD, USCG or coalition partner equivalent search and rescue, special operations or special warfare career field.
• Previous experience as a rated-officer (pilot or navigator) who achieved qualification as a Rescue Mission Commander in either rotary- or fixed-wing rescue aircraft.
• Possess an expert knowledge of military combat rescue instructions, tactics, techniques and procedures as well as aircraft capabilities and employment.
• Must be able to travel to forward support locations and flying on DoW assets to assist capsule recovery efforts.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience as a rated-officer (pilot or navigator) who achieved instructor qualification as a Rescue Mission Commander in either rotary- or fixed-wing rescue aircraft.
   

Clearance Requirements:

• Must have or be able to obtain a Secret security clearance.

Physical Requirements:

• The person in this position must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Occasionally move about inside the office to collaborate with other leaders/teams, use standard office automation equipment, and virtual communication

MANTECH considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to disability or veteran status or any other status protected under any federal, state, or local law or regulation.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position with MANTECH, please email us at careers@mantech.com and provide your name and contact information.