Sensor Modeling and Simulation Engineer, MTS/Sr. MTS

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 Electronics and Sensors Division (ESD) is a world-class engineering and scientific leader in electronics and remote sensing systems.  The Sensor Modeling and Simulation Department (SMSD) resides within ESD.  Our team includes scientists and engineers across a broad range of disciplines actively engaged in developing the next generation of remote sensing systems of national importance.  SMSD supports all aspects of advanced remote sensing system development: designing and assessing the performance of optics and electro-optical focal plane arrays, modeling the end-to-end sensing system, simulating target scenes and atmospheres, developing innovative data processing and computer vision algorithms, and producing simulated data products for new applications.  Our expertise, combined with sophisticated in-house laboratories and prototyping capabilities, enables SMSD to deliver innovative solutions to national space systems and civil customers.

Work Model:

This position will be located 100% onsite in Chantilly, Virginia.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Use innovative techniques and tools for applications including image chain modeling, scene simulation, spectroscopy, computer vision, change detection and tracking, space domain awareness, lidar and 3D remote sensing, radio frequency remote sensing, product quality metrics, optics, calibration, and/or data simulation

• Apply best practices for modeling & simulation software development to augment existing software capabilities.

• Advise government and internal Aerospace customers on operational and R&D remote sensing system performance

• Perform, document, and present results of studies using deterministic and probabilistic numerical analysis techniques

• Present and promote your work to contractors and customers to inform and influence key decisions and drive system requirements

This position can be filled as a Member of Technical Staff or a Senior Member of Technical Staff.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for a Member of Technical Staff: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Optical or Electrical Engineering, or another related discipline

• 3 years of industry work experience with remote sensing modeling, simulation, design, data processing, calibration, characterization, phenomenology, or applications

• Experience with one of the following: Python, C++, Matlab, IDL, etc.

• Willingness to travel approximately 10% of time

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Minimum Requirements for a Senior Member of Technical Staff: 

• In addition to all of the above, a total of 5 years industry experience

• Experience with evaluating sensor hardware performance

How You Can Stand Out 

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

• Advanced degree in Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Atmospheric Science, Computer Science, Optical or Electrical Engineering, or another related discipline

• Experience with agile software development and Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence)

• Demonstrated experience with modeling and simulation of sensor performance figures of merit (e.g., SNR, NESR)

• Demonstrated experience with modeling/simulation and analysis of target EO signatures and associated phenomenology in visible and infrared regions of the spectrum (to include multispectral and hyperspectral signature phenomenology)

• Experience with synthetic scene generation (with tools such as DIRSIG or Unreal Engine)

• Experience modeling atmospheric radiative transfer effects (with tools such as MODTRAN)

• Current and active Top Secret/SCI se