Space Warfighting 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.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, development planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including US Space Force, U.S Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. DSG also assists the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

As a Space Warfighting Engineer (Project Engineer/Senior Project Engineer – Enterprise Systems Engineering), you will analyze the performance of command, control, and communications (C3) that enable space mission areas including Orbital Warfare (OW), Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), and Cyberspace Warfare (CW), Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR), Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT), Space-Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST), and Theater Electromagnetic Warfare (TEW). In this role, you will collaborate across space programs and communicate your analysis findings to the government to provide technical advice on the C3 system capabilities needed for military space operations. Your end-to-end systems integration work will ensure critical commands propagate across communication networks to space systems that deliver space warfighting effects.

This position requires full-time on-site presence at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Work independently with customers and with technical support, to develop engineering assessments of C3 systems integration and satellite control telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) capabilities
• Lead modeling, simulation, and analysis efforts to characterize the performance of C3 and TT&C systems of systems
• Identify analytically grounded risks, issues, gaps, and opportunities for C3 and TT&C systems
• Develop system of system C3 and TT&C capability requirements needed across the space mission areas
• Coordinate across government and program offices to conduct technical exchanges, collect data, and communicate study findings

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Project Engineer – Enterprise Systems Engineering

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in engineering, science, mathematics, or an equivalent technical field
• 8 years of combined experience in space architectures analysis, design, modeling, acquisition, test, integration, and/or operation for satellite or ground systems 
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, customers, and corporate staff 
• Experience conducting independent research and gathering information to perform technical assessments
• Prior experience leading projects that required collaborating across organizations
• Willing to travel up to approximately 15% time 
• This position requires an active TS security clearance and SCI access with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP), which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Senior Project Engineer – Enterprise Systems Engineering include:

• Prior role as a senior technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or team leader
• Experience coordinating large-scale technical efforts
• Proven ability to mentor emerging engineering talent
• Demonstrated ability to bring in tasks and projects beyond personal activities
• 12 years of combined experience in space architectures analysis, design, modeling, acquisition, test, integration, and/or operation for satellite or ground systems 

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Conducted architecture design and evaluation processes such as problem definition, implementation and operational context, alternative architectures, systems definition, analysis, integration and synthesis
• Conducted communication systems engineering or network systems engineering performance analysis, architecture modeling, simulation, prototyping, testing, or integration
• Modeled command and control data paths from a commander center to the destination satellite, aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle to conduct military operations
• Prior roles in a program office responsible for engineering or operations of ground or space systems in the above mission areas
• Developed architectural descriptions using DODAF views and Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
• Hands-on experience with AFSIM, STK, SOAP, Python, MATLAB, Excel
• Current SAP access

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.