Sr. Space Data Transport & Threat Analysis Engineer

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.

Job Summary

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape future space missions across the national security space enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including Air Force Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Materiel 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.

The Project West Wing provides technical intelligence analysis and research for a broad range of national security space and intelligence community customers. The Enterprise Threats (ET) team delivers unique, timely, and independent technical assessments of current and future threats to space-based capabilities.

We are seeking a Senior Space Data Transport & Threat Analysis Engineer (Sr. Project Engineer) with multidisciplinary experience spanning data transport systems and/or communications engineering. Any experience in cybersecurity, orbital dynamics, automation/AI, and kill chain analysis would also be valuable. This role focuses on technical intelligence analysis and vulnerability assessment of existing and planned space-based communication networks to inform resilience strategies in contested environments.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and contribute to technical analyses of architectures of space-to-space and space-to-ground data transport networks

• Conduct comprehensive threat assessments of space data transport systems, including jamming, spoofing, cyber, and kinetic threats
• Assess adversary capabilities to disrupt, deny, degrade, or destroy space communication systems
• Perform kill chain analysis to identify system vulnerabilities and inform mitigation strategies
• Analyze foreign space communication capabilities and their implications for U.S. space operations

• Assess data transport characteristics and performance constraints across multi-domain communication architectures
• Review and assess CONOPS for networked space systems

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements - Sr. Project Engineer - Systems and Scientific & Technical Intelligence Engineering:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or related technical discipline
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible experience in systems analysis, threat analysis, or technical intelligence
• Data Transport Systems: Experience analyzing network architectures, data routing protocols, communication system designs, or network performance
• Communications Engineering: Background analyzing RF and/or optical communications, link budgets, waveform characteristics, or satellite communications (SATCOM) systems
• Data Latency Analysis: Understanding of timing constraints, quality of service requirements, real-time system performance, or network latency impacts
• Ability to synthesize technical information from multiple sources and domains
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to brief complex technical findings
• This position requires a current and active TS security clearance with the ability to get SCI access.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced Degree: Master's or PhD in engineering, computer science, physics, or related technical discipline
• Cybersecurity: Understanding of network security analysis, cyber threat assessment, cryptographic systems analysis, or secure communication vulnerabilities
• Automation/AI: Familiarity with autonomous systems, machine learning vulnerabilities, or AI-enabled system architectures
• Excellent writte