2025 Remote Sensing System Modeling and Simulation Specialist

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.

A trusted partner. A national resource. A leader in national security space. We are THE Aerospace Corporation.  A team that takes pride in our readiness to solve some of the most complex technical challenges in existence. With challenges spanning government to commercial, you’ll have the unique opportunity to work on projects that are literally evolving our nation's space and launch capabilities. We all share a common passion and aspiration – to serve a mission much bigger than ourselves.  When you join our team, you’ll be part of a rare collection of thought leaders and game-changing innovators.  Are you ready to launch your career?

At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration.   With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results. We guide our Department of Defense (DoD), intelligence community (IC), and commercial clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions.  Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD!

The Integrated Sensor Design and Analysis Department (ISDAD) within MPD is seeking an electro-optical analyst with a focus on remote sensing and physical optics modeling to join our team of scientists and engineers engaged in developing the next generation of remote sensing systems of national importance. The ISDAD team supports all aspects of advanced remote sensing system development: designing and assessing the performance of optics and electro-optical sensor systems, modeling the end-to-end sensing system, developing innovative data processing and computer vision algorithms, and producing simulated data products for new applications. Our work directly influences government architecture and acquisition decisions and assists our customer counterparts with designing, acquiring, and fielding the most advanced capabilities in the world.

Our expertise in design, modeling, simulation, and analysis are augmented by sophisticated in-house laboratories and enable unique approaches to solving the hardest technical problems.

Work Model 

Hybrid: This position will be a hybrid work model and offer partially remote with primarily onsite work required in El Segundo, CA,

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the national space enterprise on a wide variety of projects, from rapid-development prototypes through Class A satellites, and from pre-proposal phases through on-orbit support.

• Leveraging commercial, government sponsored, and in-house software tools to perform rigorous modeling and simulation of earth remote sensing, absolute and relative radiometry, wavefront propagation and sensing, diffraction effects, stray light and thermal self-emission for the performance analysis and prediction of passive electro-optical sensor systems including visible and infrared radiometers, imagers, hyper- and multi-spectral imaging radiometers.

• Supporting the development of new remote sensing concepts with modeling and simulation, including the development of technical performance requirements and in the assessment of proposed designs.

• Working independently and collaborating with senior staff and department management to solve challenging technical problems. 

• Communicate technical insights and strategic recommendations to government leaders and key stakeholders to drive informed decision-making for system acquisition and architecture

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree from an accredited university in optics, physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, or another related discipline, pursuing or conferred within the last / next 12 months

• 0-1 year of industry work

• Academic experience performing physics-based modeling and simulation

• Experience using a common processing languag