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Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

General Atomics

Contamination Control Engineer

Acton, MA · On-site

$91K - $118K/yr

With limited direction, the Contamination Control Engineer is responsible for developing ... aerospace hardware and optical systems. This role serves as the subject matter expert for ...

IPG Photonics

Contamination Control Engineer

Oxford, MA · On-site

$86K - $112K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a highly experienced engineer with a strong foundation in chemistry to lead contamination control and manufacturing process development for deep-ultraviolet (DUV) laser ...

Allergan

The Contamination Control Supervisor at AbbVie Westport is responsible for leading a team of ... Qualifications * 3rd level qualification in science or engineering related discipline * Strong ...

Blue Origin LLC

NY · On-site

$133K - $186K/yr

You will share in the team's impact on all aspects of contamination control from the design phase ... Familiar with a variety of aerospace materials and process engineering disciplines such as metals ...

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Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer information

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$65K

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How much do aerospace contamination control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerospace contamination control engineer in the United States is $91,787.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $99,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an aerospace contamination control engineer?

An Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer is a specialist responsible for preventing, detecting, and managing contaminants in aerospace environments, such as spacecraft, satellites, and cleanrooms. Their work ensures that particles, microbes, and other unwanted materials do not compromise the performance or safety of aerospace systems. They develop contamination control plans, oversee cleaning procedures, conduct inspections, and support testing to meet strict industry standards. This role is essential for missions where even microscopic contamination can cause failures or reduce the lifespan of aerospace components.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an aerospace contamination control engineer?

To thrive as an Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering, physics, or materials science, typically with a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with industry standards (such as ISO 14644), cleanroom protocols, and specialized analysis tools like particle counters and surface cleanliness assessment systems is crucial. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and ensure compliance. These skills and qualities are essential for minimizing contamination risks, maintaining component reliability, and ensuring mission success in aerospace environments.

What are some common challenges faced by aerospace contamination control engineers during spacecraft assembly?

Aerospace Contamination Control Engineers often encounter challenges such as maintaining strict cleanliness standards in controlled environments and ensuring all spacecraft components remain free from particulates, outgassing, and biological contaminants. They must work closely with multidisciplinary teams—from materials engineers to quality assurance—to implement rigorous protocols and adapt quickly to unexpected contamination events during assembly. Additionally, documentation and compliance with industry standards (like ISO 14644) can be demanding but are crucial for mission success and reliability.

What is the difference between Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer vs Aerospace Quality Engineer?

AspectAerospace Contamination Control EngineerAerospace Quality Engineer
Primary FocusManaging contamination control processes and cleanliness standards in aerospace environmentsEnsuring product quality and compliance with industry standards
CertificationsISO 14644, contamination control certificationsASQ certifications, ISO 9001
Work EnvironmentCleanrooms, manufacturing facilities, testing labsManufacturing plants, inspection sites, quality assurance departments
Industry UsageUsed in spacecraft, satellite, and aircraft assemblyApplied across aerospace manufacturing and maintenance

While both roles are vital in aerospace, the Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer focuses on maintaining cleanliness standards to prevent contamination, whereas the Aerospace Quality Engineer concentrates on overall product quality and compliance. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right career path or job focus within the aerospace industry.

What are popular job titles related to Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer jobs?

For Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Aerospace Contamination Control Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,787 per year, or $44.1 per hour.

Spacecraft Contamination Engineer

Titusville, FL

Associates Systems LLC
Engineering Professional Services • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Associates Systems LLCexternal

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Evaluate contamination sensitivities, requirements, controls, budgets, and mitigation strategies for spacecraft, payloads, and associated hardware.

  • Analyze molecular and particulate contamination sources, transport, and deposition, including potential impacts to spacecraft, payloads, instruments, and docking surfaces.

  • Review and assess contamination control plans, analyses, verification approaches, and technical documentation throughout design, manufacturing, integration, testing, transportation, and operations.

Job description

Spacecraft Contamination Control Engineer 
Onsite Kennedy Space Center /  Florida - No Hybrid or remote is available.
NASA or AEROSPACE Exp
US Citizens or Perm Residents Only
These are immediate interviews for the right candidates.
Level: Senior Engineer / Subject Matter Expert
Overview
We are looking for an experienced Spacecraft Contamination Control Engineer to support advanced spaceflight programs.
The engineer will provide subject matter expertise in the analysis, assessment, and verification of spacecraft contamination requirements and controls throughout the spacecraft lifecycle. The role includes contamination sensitivity assessments, contamination budgets and mitigation strategies, molecular and particulate transport analysis, and evaluation of contamination controls for flight hardware, payloads, and mission operations.
This position will be filled at the Senior Engineer or Subject Matter Expert level, depending on qualifications, with salary commensurate with experience.
Key Responsibilities
  • Evaluate contamination sensitivities, requirements, controls, budgets, and mitigation strategies for spacecraft, payloads, and associated hardware.
  • Analyze molecular and particulate contamination sources, transport, and deposition, including potential impacts to spacecraft, payloads, instruments, and docking surfaces.
  • Review and assess contamination control plans, analyses, verification approaches, and technical documentation throughout design, manufacturing, integration, testing, transportation, and operations.
  • Support the development, review, and refinement of contamination-related requirements and verification approaches, including assessment of proposed compliance methods and verification evidence.
  • Evaluate contamination risks associated with materials, hardware processing, cleaning, inspection, storage, transportation, and cleanroom environments.
  • Participate in qualification, acceptance, and other testing activities and evaluate test results and demonstrated performance.
  • Investigate contamination issues and anomalies, perform or support root-cause analysis, and evaluate proposed corrective actions.
  • Apply flight and test experience, lessons learned, and engineering analysis to assess contamination risks, hardware acceptance criteria, and proposed design or process changes.
  • Collaborate with thermal, fluids, propulsion, materials, systems engineering, mission design, and other disciplines to evaluate contamination interactions and integrated spacecraft performance.
  • Provide independent technical assessments, identify risks and uncertainties, and develop recommendations for engineering and program leadership.
  • Participate in technical reviews and engineering activities with spacecraft developers, test organizations, and other technical partners.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentoring in spacecraft contamination control methods, analysis, and practices.
Required Qualifications
  • B.S. degree in Engineering or related discipline and 10+ years of relevant experience, or M.S. degree and 7+ years of relevant experience.
  • 7+ years of experience in spacecraft contamination control or a related aerospace field, preferably involving flight hardware.
  • Experience determining contamination sensitivities and evaluating or developing contamination requirements based on instrument, payload, or system performance characteristics.
  • Experience evaluating contamination controls across design, manufacturing, integration, test, and inspection activities.
  • Experience with molecular and particulate contamination, outgassing, transport/deposition, cleanroom practices, materials, vacuum systems, and hardware cleaning and inspection methods.
  • Experience with aerospace contamination control processes for spacecraft, launch systems, or other contamination-sensitive flight hardware.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen and successfully complete a U.S. Government background investigation.
  • Strong technical communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Preferred Qualifications
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Engineering or related discipline.
  • Experience with spacecraft docking contamination control, ISS, or other contamination-sensitive spaceflight systems.
  • Experience applying NASA and industry contamination control standards and practices.
  • Experience with contamination testing and characterization, including ASTM E595, E1559, E1216, or E1235.
  • Experience with contamination modeling and analysis using tools such as Thermal Desktop, MATLAB, or specialized contamination analysis software.
  • Experience with spacecraft or commercial spaceflight hardware through design, integration, qualification, test, or operations.
  • Experience evaluating hardware acceptance criteria, verification evidence, technical risks, and corrective actions.

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