GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst

Hiring Locations:
California

2310 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
200 S. Los Robles Ave. Suite 150, Pasadena, CA 91101

Vandenberg Space Force Base
806 13th St. Bldg. 7015, Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437

Utah
Hill Air Force Base
6002 Wardleigh Rd Bldg. 1578, Ste. 200, Hill AFB, UT 84056

Colorado
7250 Getting Heights Colorado Springs, CO 80916
18300 E. Crested Butte Avenue (STOP 49), Buckley SFB, CO 80011
Peterson SPACE Force Base
150 Vandenberg St., Suite 1105, Peterson SFB, CO 80914

New Mexico
2155 Louisiana Blvd. #5000, Albuquerque, NM 87110
2301 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Ste 1100, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Kirtland Air Force Base
3548 Aberdeen Ave SE Bldg 413/Rm 118, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117

Texas
2525 Bay Area Boulevard, Ste. 600 Houston, TX 77058
2101 NASA Road One Johnson Space Center M/C NQ112 Houston, TX 77058

Nebraska
Offutt Air Force Base
101 Nelson Dr. Offutt AFB, NE 68113

Alabama
5030 Bradford Drive, Building 1 Suite 220, Huntsville, Alabama 35805

Ohio
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
4180 Watson Way Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

Florida
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
15385 Samuel C Phillips Parkway Building 44410, Room 1060, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Maryland
7850 Walker Drive, Suite 300 Patriot Business Park, Greenbelt, MD 20770
1335 East-West Highway SSMC1 6200 Silver Spring, MD 20910
4231 Suitland Road #1225 Suitland, Maryland 20746

Virginia
14745 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
4851 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA

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 Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

Within VSD, the Control Analysis Department (CAD) focuses on providing satellite attitude and payload pointing estimation and control system analysis for a wide variety of space programs/systems ranging from DoD and NRO to commercial. Applications may include small pathfinding CubeSats with prototype payloads (weighing a few kilograms total), all the way up to the more exquisite GPS constellation upon which countless users rely every day. In response to the rapidly evolving space environment of today, CAD leverages state-of-the-art tools, techniques, and knowledge to outpace the threat of tomorrow. As part of the Aerospace Corporation FFRDC, however, CAD is also better able to ensure such agile approaches are well-anchored in heritage proficiencies of space vehicle attitude control, dynamics, and estimation and payload pointing. From this fundamental foundation, this department engages in cutting-edge research and applies modern methods to emerging and related topics such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics to solve new and increasingly challenging problems.

As a Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders supporting all phases of a program lifecycle: conceptual studies, prototyping, source selection, development, and operations.

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

What You’ll Be Doing

Participate in design, simulation, analysis, and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems on a variety of National Security Space programs, civil programs, and commercial programs.
Perform tasks in support of concept development, trade studies, source selections, requirements analyses, risk assessments, design analyses, simulation development, prototyping, test planning and execution, operations support, and anomaly resolution.
Communicate technical results both orally and in writing, interacting directly with government customers, program management, and contractors.
Research, develop, and document new analysis tools and techniques.
Engage with subject matter experts in continuous learning to drive the state-of-the-art technical analysis.
Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed
What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring

Strong written and oral communication skills
Must work well in a team environment
Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations
What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for a Member of Technical Staff – Guidance Navigation & Control:

Master’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
0-1 year of industry work experience
Experience with developing control and dynamics simulations
Graduate level coursework and/or in-depth, hands-on experience in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or advanced dynamics
Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink
Working knowledge with C/C++
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
Transcripts
In addition to the requirements above, the minimum requirements for Sr. Member of Technical Staff – Guidance Navigation & Control:

PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
Proficiency in an area related to spacecraft attitude determination and control
How You Can Stand Out

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

3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
Proficiency with software development: version control (Git), containerization (Docker), cross-platform compatibility (Linux, Windows, Mac), ROS / Gazebo, and distributed computing
Experience with special topics including, but not limited to:
Rendezvous, proximity, operations, and docking (RPOD) scenarios
Computer vision algorithms, image processing, point-cloud analysis
Mobile robotics, guidance algorithms, trajectory optimization
Simultaneous localization & mapping (SLAM), unscented Kalman filters (UKFs), particle filters, factor graphs
Data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networks
Proficiency with one or more of the following:
Spacecraft attitude determination and control
Payload pointing estimation and control
Kalman filtering and stochastic processes
Advanced control techniques and applications
Modeling and simulation of control systems
Multibody and flexible body dynamics
Implementation, testing, deploying, and calibration of control systems
Eagerness to continue learning
A current and Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government, is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min – Max)

$100,000.00 – $140,000.00
Pay Basis: Annual
Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

Operate Strategically
Lead Change  
Engage with Impact  
Foster Innovation  
Deliver Results
Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

Flexible spending accounts

Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

Relocation assistance

Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

Education assistance programs

An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.