Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System (EWS) 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.
At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration - to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.
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The Space Systems Group (SSG) serves as the technical and programmatic advisor to the United States Space Force's (USSF's) Space Systems Command (SSC) [formerly Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC)] for acquiring, developing and fielding capabilities for the United States Space Command and joint warfighter as well as to maintain America's comprehensive military advantage in space. Our unique position as an FFRDC consultant to our customers allows you to have an immediate and significant impact in driving national technical direction and decisions.
As the Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineer for the Electro-Optical, Infrared Weather System (EWS) program within the Demonstration and Technology Department, you will be at the forefront of Aerospace's technical efforts to help pioneer a new DoD Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellite architecture by fielding and evaluating on-orbit demonstrations and operational prototypes. You will also support the exploration of alternative solutions to meet the DoD weather data needs through the use of commercial service contracts or hosted payloads. You will be part of a team supporting numerous fast paced advanced technology programs including on-orbit demonstrations and prototypes, ground testbeds and advanced technology maturation for SSC's Development Corps.
What You'll Be Doing
- Serve as technical representative to the Government's SSC Development Corps, Advanced Development Division, EWS prototype program managers
- Work directly with development contractors to ensure success of space flight hardware development at the space vehicle and sensor level to include build, integration, test and verification activities
- Provide technical recommendations with respect to ground system development (command and control and data processing) as well as space to ground interfaces
- Support on-orbit operations and prototype sensor calibration/validation to assess compliance with challenging requirements for user acceptance and to inform future architecture decisions
- Quickly assess risk, schedule, and cost trades to enable responsive delivery of space capabilities, while meeting mission objectives
- Interact daily with Government customer leaders and other stakeholders across the program to align prototype objectives with operational needs
- Work closely with The Aerospace Corporation's engineering matrix organization of space vehicle, ground system and payload subsystem experts to provide the customer with objective, data driven assessments to support programmatic decisions
- Contribute to planning and execution of mission assurance activities to appropriately balance risk tolerance and speed associated with rapid prototype systems
- Support the execution of a Digital Engineering (DE) strategy and assist in establishing system engineering processes to integrate model-based systems engineering (MBSE) models
This position is available as a Project Engineer or Senior Project Engineer
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant Engineering, Math or Science subject area
- Typically 8 years of experience in engineering, science, or space system development
- Experience with spaceflight hardware development and/or on-orbit operations for demonstrations, prototypes or operational systems
- Understanding of system engineering processes related to requirement development/verification, CONOPS, interface definition/validation, and system level integration
- Familiarity with Digital Engineering concepts and model-based system engineering (MBSE) tools
- Ability to comprehend complex technical details and discuss with engineering staff, managers, customers and a team of government support contractors
- Ability to travel up to 10 percent of the time
- Current DoD Secret security clearance, and ability to obtain an SSBI , which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
What You Need to be Successful - Senior Project Engineer
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant Engineering, Math or Science subject area
- Typically 12 years of progressively more responsible related experience in engineering, science, or space system development
- Track record of working in multidisciplinary teams to develop and field spaceflight hardware on short timelines with the ability to offer innovative solutions for future concept development and operational transition
- Experience implementing system engineering processes related to requirement development/verification, CONOPS, interface definition/validation, and system level integration
- Understanding of Digital Engineering principles and experience with model-based system engineering (MBSE) tools, data ontologies/standards and model development
- Demonstrated ability to succinctly describe complex technical issues to engineering staff, managers, customers and a team of government support contractors to influence outcomes
- Ability to travel up to 10 percent of the time
- Current DoD Secret security clearance, and ability to obtain an SSBI , 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:
- Masters from an accredited program in science, math, engineering, or relevant discipline.
- In-depth technical knowledge and accomplishments with Space Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) mission systems and capabilities
- Hands on experience building, integrating, and testing space flight hardware
- Experience with the production of EO/IR Sensor Data Records (SDRs) and their use in weather forecast models
- Experience leveraging matrix engineering staff deep technical capabilities with respect to space vehicle, ground system and EO/IR sensor modeling, and simulation
- Relevant Government program office acquisition experience to include process, strategy, contracts, cost/schedule/performance/risk trades, and utility analysis of space systems
- Understanding of the National Security Space (NSS) space enterprise including the major programs and roles of SSC
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 diverse 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/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 [email protected]. You can also review The Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law andthe supplement, as well as thePay Transparency Policy Statement.