RF Communication Systems Engineer - Member of Technical Staff/ Sr Member of Technical Staff

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.

The Communications Technologies and Engineering Division (CTED) at Aerospace Corporation helps our customers solve the hardest problems in Satellite Communications, Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), and Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT). CTED provides solutions broadly covering architectures, policies, system design, performance, and development of cutting-edge prototypes in our laboratories. The division interacts with all major space customers to address their needs from terrestrial networks, ground stations and wireless systems to spacecraft, with a strong focus on robust and resilient communications.

The Communication Payload, Command & Telemetry Department (CPCTD) provides technical leadership and expertise in the areas of space communication payloads, navigation payloads, and telemetry, tracking and commanding systems as well as their ground counterparts.  CPCTD supports Space Systems Command, National Reconnaissance Office, other US Government, and Civil & Commercial customers. 

Work Model: This position will be a hybrid work model and offer partially remote with some onsite work required in Colorado Springs, CO; El Segundo, CA; or Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Provide cutting-edge space RF communication system design and hardware implementation risk assessment to include: 

• Space RF communication architecture system development lifecycle including: preliminary design, requirement definition and analysis, risk assessment, modeling & simulation, system test, and on-orbit support
• Quick-turnaround conceptual design and advanced architecture studies: 
  • Communication link budget trades
  • Constellation dynamic link modeling & simulation
  • Detailed system hardware architecture trade balancing insertion of advanced technology with appropriate risk
  • Documenting trade study results providing insight to senior decision makers   
  • Collaborate in multi-discipline team environments across the space vehicle subsystems
• Specific technical areas include:  transmitters, receivers, modems, microwave components, and antennas, communication waveforms.
• Concepts of operations & constellation orbital flight concepts

What You Need to be Successful – Member of Technical Staff

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Math or another related discipline
• Two or more years of relevant work experience
• Course work in communication systems, theory, analysis, and hardware implementation
• Fundamental knowledge of satellite communication, radar and/or position navigation and timing
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Senior Member of the Technical Staff  include:  

• Five or more years of relevant work experience
• Increasing responsibilities in the area of RF communication systems
• Ability to work mostly independently with limited oversight

How You Can Stand Out 

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

• Possess or pursuing a Master’s degree from an accredited college/ university program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Math or another related discipline
• Prior relevant internship experience
• Broad modeling and coding experience in multiple environments (e.g. MATLAB, Python, SQL, LATEX, etc)
• Knowledge in developing or implementing communications architectures including satellite Tracking, Telemetry & Command (TT&C)
• Digital signal processing
• Satellite test and integration experience
• Link 16 knowledge and experience
• Active TS/SCI Clearance

We offer a competitive compens