Spacecraft Integration 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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

Imagery Programs Division’s (IPD) Reconnaissance Systems (RS) Office is looking for a Spacecraft Integration Engineer (Project Leader - Systems and Systems Test Engineering) who wants to contribute and gain additional experience in support of a next generation Radar payload major system acquisition.  This position serves as the focal point for Aerospace activities across broad spectrum of technical areas to support the design, manufacture, integration, test, and operation of a complex national security space system. This is a dynamic and exciting time in the development cycle, and the systems engineer will have the opportunity to shape the future of a critical space program.

This position requires 100% in-person work in Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

- Align Aerospace risk management techniques and team efforts during manufacturing and test phase, to ensure no mission ending or unacceptable performances escape to orbit.
- Optimize customer support team engagement in AI&T to ensure customer is enabled to implement informed decisions.
- Position Aerospace system engineering and AI&T team to complement and fill “white space” gaps in contractor efforts on the hardest program problems, document actionable recommendations, move to rapidly close resulting actions, and report to customer
- Leading non-conformance and major technical issue response teams, directing supporting SME in design evaluation, test, and analyses, consolidating input, and providing recommendations in support of root cause and corrective action efforts.
- Supporting new and existing efforts for development and execution through architectural realization, design development, and CONOPs maturation
- Collaborating with government customers and SETA counterparts to develop integrated assessments and technical recommendations
- Generating periodic written reports and presentation to customer and Aerospace management
- Observe and assess assembly, integration and test activities (AI&T) in the factory to ensure essential Aerospace technical expertise is used to inform customer decisions in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Ensure customer clearly understands how best to employ Aerospace resources.
- Provide in-factory MA/QA assessments of activities such as audits, failure review boards and non-conformance process compliance
- Ensure Aerospace works as one team across all internal program interfaces for cross-cutting activities.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Project Leader– Systems and Systems Test Engineering role :

- Bachelor's degree in relevant technical field
- Six or more years of responsible professional engineering experience
- Effective systems engineering and communication skills to identify problems, develop solutions, and assess risks
- In-depth knowledge and experience with at least one spacecraft technical discipline
- Willingness to support travel (typically 1 week per month). If based in Chantilly, the  position requires 2 weeks per month of travel.
- This position requires a current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the U.S. 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:

- Advanced degree in relevant technical field
- Prior experience working space vehicle systems engineering for National Security Space customers
- Prior experience providing direct engineering support, in-factory, to the development of satellites
- Understanding of and experience working with a matrixed engineering organization
- Demonstrated ability to function effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively with limited supervision.
- Strong customer-oriented attitude with outstanding skills in coordinating exchanges between technical staff and the customer.
- Demonstrated ability to function effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively with limited supervision.
- Strong customer-oriented attitude with outstanding skills in coordinating exchanges between technical staff and the customer.

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)
$120,800.00 - $181,100.00

Pay Basis: Annual

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 .