Sr. Project Engineer - Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, development planning, system of system engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future of space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise.  DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation.  DSG also assists the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control and range systems.

This position will fall within our Agile Acquisitions Division and will provide support to the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO).  The Senior Project Engineer (Communications Systems and Payload Systems Engineering – RF) will provide technical expertise and engineering support in the development and fielding of critical capabilities.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Applying multi-discipline technical, payload, communications, and systems engineering expertise to solve the nation’s greatest challenges and to assure mission success and timely fielding of cutting-edge space system capabilities
• Designing, modeling, simulating, testing, analyzing and evaluating communications systems, subsystems and electronic signals and related technologies in the development of communication networks, data links, signals transmission and processing, command and control and mission management systems
• Applying knowledge of communications systems, modulation schema, signal coding, digital and wireless radio/communications technology, network architecture design and related concepts, methods, techniques and tools to develop, refine and integrate complex communications systems and architectures
• Conducting research, design, development and testing of electrical or mechanical hardware, software and firmware components and computing systems software to be applied to and integrated with space systems and payloads
• Supporting and evaluating the design, test, modification, fabrication and assembly of prototype electromechanical and other technical systems and recommending various technology options or approaches for system, processes, facility or program improvements in terms of safety, performance, efficiency or costs
• Analyzing and evaluating engineering and technical data, to identify shortfalls, develop design alternatives and provide risk assessments for Comm, RF and other technical systems
• Collaborating and interfacing with a wide array of organizations and personnel to review and coordinate design specifications and engineering products to address design and integration issues and formulate alternatives across a wide range of cross-discipline engineering areas
• Supporting the development, testing and operational fielding of complex space capabilities including detailed engineering of parts, payloads, complete end-to-end systems, architectures and overall mission designs using a variety of analytic tools and systems to assess alternatives and maximize performance
• Advising the Government on the trades associated with up-front alternative analyses and recommend capability and risk-based courses of action considering operational, technical, and acquisition factors

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer – Communications Systems and Payload Systems Engineering - RF:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or other applicable degree
• 12 or more years of relevant