Junior Electromechanical Controls Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The Electromechanical Control Department (ECD) provides technical support in the areas of electromechanical control systems, control system hardware and algorithms used for spacecraft and launch vehicles, as well as terrestrial and aerial applications. We specialize in mission critical control sensor and actuator, including electric motors, gyroscopes and IMUs, accelerometers, gimbals, steering mirrors, encoders & resolvers, star trackers, GPS receivers, capacitive & inductive sensors, servo mechanism, reaction wheels, and thrust vector control actuators.

As a Junior Electromechanical Controls Engineer (Associate Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering or Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering) in ECD, you will plan and conduct technical studies and experimental investigations to support customer programs, interacting with government customers, program management, and contractors.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conducting technical studies that often involve the analysis, simulation, evaluation, or testing of control systems and their components.
• Verifying contractor designs, approaches, and overall system performance
• Performing experimental investigations in the Mechatronics Research Laboratory (managed by ECD) and/or other Aerospace labs may include controller design and implementation, data reduction and visualization, sensor and actuator performance evaluation, and electro-optical systems calibration and alignment.
• Supporting multiple programs, clearly communicating the results of studies while working with both internal and external customers and stakeholders as a technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader.
• Communicating both orally and in writing with higher management, program offices, customers, contractors, and colleagues.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements – Associate Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or related disciplines
• 1+ years of applicable industry or academic work experience
• Proficiency in laboratory experimentation, test strategy development, experiment design, and integration and testing
• Experience with electronics, mechanical design, control systems, inertial sensors, and actuators applicable to spacecraft and/or launch vehicles
• Experience performing technical support in complex environments (multi-program, multi-agency) involving customers, program offices, engineering support, and contractors
• Proficiency in tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, C/C++, Python
• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required)
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering include:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or related disciplines

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Hardware expertise in sensors, actuators, and integrated systems, e.g., electric motors, rotational sensors, reaction wheels, and control moment gyros, etc.
• Familiarity with launch vehicle and satellite payloads and control, their relationships to other subsystems, and to mission-level performance
• Active secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max)

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.