2026 Jr Software and Data 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 Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Jr Software and Data Engineer for the Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD). Position will be full-time, onsite at our office in El Segundo.

Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) staff couple the latest in information system technologies, such as elastic compute clouds, containerization, microservices, real-time operating systems, and visualization frameworks, with expertise in cyber security, software architecture, software engineering, data science, Artificial Intelligence, process improvement, and software development to deliver responsive, resilient, high-performance software intensive systems to our Intelligence Community, DoD, and civilian customers. 

Job Summary

The qualified candidate will become part of the Data Platforms and Architectures Department (DPAD) whose focus is on a variety of software projects that focus on analyzing, processing, and visualizing data, often in collaboration with the Artificial Intelligence department. Position will be responsible for identifying, prototyping, and analyzing the viability of innovative technologies and software solutions to aid Aerospace and its customers in addressing real-world mission challenges!

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Supporting the national, security, and commercial space enterprise through the identification, prototyping, assessment, and implementation of cutting-edge data engineering technologies in a cloud-native environment.

• Collaborating with technical subject matter experts and interdisciplinary teams to conceive, design, and develop enterprise data analysis pipelines and applications.

• Learning by doing, acquiring expertise in emerging technologies to further personal and organizational breadth of knowledge in an academic environment where self-enrichment, training, and mentorship is fundamental.

• Proposing innovative research and development projects, leading research and proof-of-concept development as the principal investigator.

What Skills You’ll Bring

• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills for coordinating efforts and working with members of various internal and external organizations.

• Strong reading comprehension, research, and analytical skills for understanding software documentation and source code, interpreting project requirements, and learning new technologies according to project demand.

• Integrity, self-motivation, initiative, and a collaborative approach to working in a team environment and proactively communicating progress and concerns to teammates and project stakeholders.

• Organizational, time management, and project management skills, including knowledge of software engineering lifecycles and familiarity with project management methodologies.

• Adaptability to working in a dynamic environment where duties, responsibilities, and activities vary in response to fluctuating organizational needs.

• Flexibility in completing projects with concurrent timelines, accurately estimating task duration, and working independently on execution.

• Demonstration of behavior consistent with the company’s values: Dedication to Mission Success, Technical Excellence, Commitment to Our People, Objectivity and Integrity, and Innovation.

What You Need to be Successful  

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or STEM related program, pursuing or conferring within 12 months. 

• Minimum GPA of 3.0

• 0-1 year of industry work experience  

• Academic knowledge and/or project experience related to Data Engineering, Data Science, AI, or Software and Cloud Development

• Backend development project experience or course work in data structures and algorithms.

• Proficient in one of the following programming languages: Java, C, C++, Python, Perl, or Shell scripting.

• Experience developing in Unix-like environments and using source/version control (Git).

• Willingness to travel approx. 15% domestically to support customer needs

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. 

• Transcripts required

How You Can Stand Out  

• Advanced degree 

• Active security clearance

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of one or more scripting languages

• Experience developing REST APIs or application-database integration programming.

• Knowledge of data architectures and platforms, data mesh, data fabric, data pipelines, data engineering, data management, or data governance.

• Familiarity with data semantics, knowledge engineering, or virtual knowledge graphing (VSG).

• Experience building cloud-native applications, virtual environments, microservice architectures, containerized platforms, infrastructure as code, or automated deployments (e.g. Kubernetes, Docker, Argo).

• Experience implementing unit, integration, or functional software testing.

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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.