Sr. Optical Systems 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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

Project West Wing (PWW) within DSG provides technical intelligence analysis and research for a broad range of national security space and intelligence community customers.  The Threat Intelligence for Operations (TIO) group within PWW focuses on providing technical intelligence support across the defense space community including U.S. Space Command, Space Systems Command, and the Space Warfighting Analysis Center.  Join us and actively contribute to a high-performing team bringing to bear technical skills to characterize the fast-evolving field of space threats and its implications to U.S. national security space. Participate in a wide range of technical activities, work with technical intelligence, analyze threats to space programs, and influence customer decisions on important national security space topics.

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

Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Modelling and analyzing optical, electro-optical mechanical systems and components, including sensors, lasers, fiber-optics and related high energy systems.
• Acting as a lead technical contributor, consultant, and project coordinator on space systems engineering analysis projects.
• Working with technical intelligence to develop impactful analytical analysis of space systems and technologies.
• Work with teams of PWW colleagues, Aerospace engineers, government customers, and government contract support to inform accurate in-depth research, detailed modeling, or other multi-disciplinary engineering analysis required to answer operational and intelligence requirements.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive awareness and understanding of current and developing threats to current and future U.S. national security space and nuclear deterrence systems, architectures, and missions.
• Actively participate in and provide advice and assistance in technical operational readiness assessments.
• Build and maintain relationships with other Aerospace colleagues, intelligence community, and national security space organizations to facilitate the exchange of information and ensure the accuracy of the group’s analyses.
• Protect and maintain the organization’s reputation for integrity with unbiased, independent, high-quality analysis.
• Gather, assimilate, process, and analyze a wide variety of open source and other forms of data and information; apply intelligence analysis, scientific, and/or engineering methods to draw conclusions and extrapolate answers to both specific and general scientific and technical threat intelligence questions.
• Travel as required to contractor locations, government facilities, and other Aerospace offices.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements – Sr. Project Engineer - Systems and Scientific & Technical Intelligence:                                                     

• Bachelor’s degree from an in STEM related discipline, or closely related technical field.
• 12 or more years of professional experience modeling, building, or designing optical systems or related systems and technologies.
• Experience managing projects and leading diverse technical teams.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and creative problem solving.
• Strong demonstrated written and oral communication skills are required to collaborate with peers and customers and generate deliverable products.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal and working relationships with various levels of corporate staff, peers, management, program offices, customers, and contractors.
• Demonstrated initiative and strong technical leadership skills, with proven ability to work with and build teams.
• The ability to travel is required
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI security clearance or immediately eligible for a TS clearance, which is issued by the US government.  U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• A graduate level degree in a scientific, engineering, or mathematics discipline.
• Experience working with government space entities such as the NRO, SSDP, or SWAC.
• Experience with computational modeling and experimental validation of advanced optical systems.

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.