Space Systems Architecture

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities. 

The Mission Engineering Department provides technical expertise and leadership in mission engineering methods, processes, and tools to a broad range of customers, including National Security Space (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, and others. Members of the Mission Engineering Department evaluate and assess customer mission-integration needs and/or challenges, develop end-to-end mission threads, and provide timely advice, make recommendations to enterprise leaders on risks, issues, and gaps, and develop recommended solutions to enable desired mission outcomes. The Mission Engineering Department applies the mission-engineering tradecraft to build and analyze end-to-end effects-chains.  

This is an on-site position based in El Segundo, CA or Colorado Springs, CO. In-person presence will be required for customer meetings and classified work.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Apply and develop disciplined mission engineering, system architecting methods, simulation, processes, and tools in a broad range of architecture-level assessment, modeling, analysis, and conceptual design activities
• Apply and develop innovative methods, processes, and tools to architect and implement model-based systems engineering (MBSE), simulation, and digital engineering (DE) capabilities
• Use, develop, and integrate analytical methods and tools to evaluate effect chains and system conceptual designs for cost, schedule, performance, risk, resilience to disruptive events or threats, and other characteristics
• Inform system architecting and acquisition decisions with expertise in relevant systems, technologies, threats, policy, and the industrial base in the space domain
• Collaborate with other Aerospace personnel to marshal technical expertise in multiple technical disciplines and domains to enable concurrent engineering approaches to address complex problems
• Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; build cross-disciplinary teams; scope, plan, and execute the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline
• Relevant work and/or graduate school experience, typically 3+ years, in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, model-based systems engineering, or digital engineering
• Relevant work and/or graduate school experience, typically 3+ years, in space systems or nuclear weapons systems
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills and ability to work effectively with a set of collaborators
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications
• Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• Ability to learn new skills and acquire knowledge through self-study and proactive engagement with mentors and subject matter experts
• Willing to travel [domestically/internationally] approx. 10%
• This position requires a security clearance, TS/SCI, 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:

• Advanced degree in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline
• Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate