Space Architecture Performance Modeling & Simulation Specialist

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 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 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-enabled mission effects.

The Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department (SNAPD) in the Integrated Performance Subdivision aspires to be the premier force advising the evolution of national security and civil space enterprises, leveraging our modeling and simulation (M&S) expertise to evaluate end-to-end architecture performance.

We are seeking a Space Architecture Performance Specialist that will lead the development and maintenance of sophisticated simulation tools in support of requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives, and performance modeling for space-based remote sensing architectures.

Work Model:

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly VA, Colorado Springs CO, or El Segundo CA, which requires 100% onsite work.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Lead teams to perform assessments using in-house or internally developed analysis tools that drive recommendations for research, development, and acquisition decisions of legacy and emerging customer space-based sensing architectures.

Partner across ETG to continue quality M&S standards in department capabilities and maintain awareness of software requirements and resources.

Serve as a technical mentor to junior staff in one or more department focus areas, coordinating training and delivering a strategy for maintaining bench depth in department capabilities.

Independently translate customer needs into project objectives and instructions for ETG analysts and developers, assemble and lead multi-disciplinary technical teams, track team performance, and review team products for quality and accuracy.

Work side-by-side with the Aerospace program office and interface with government leaders, contractors, other government agencies, other program offices, and the Aerospace Engineering and Technical Group (ETG) to address issues and provide the customer with the best available technical analyses and recommendations.

Develop and present timely and technically accurate presentations and reports that clearly communicate analysis results to technical leads, management, and customers.

Support development and sustainment of the organization’s analysis and simulation tools and capabilities. 

What You Need to be Successful:

Minimum Requirements for the Engineering Specialist:

B.S degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, mathematics, or related discipline from an accredited school.

8 years of progressively technical modeling and simulation experience.

Professional experience with one or more of the following subjects: space-related modeling and simulation, geolocation, mission data processing, signal and image processing, space threats, resilient systems, algorithm design, software development, or mathematical modeling.

Proficiency with one or more software languages that may include Python, C++, Fortran, or MATLAB.

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

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Engineering Specialist include: 

12 years of progressively more detailed modeling and simulation experience

Demonstrated technical leadership, personal accountability, and adaptability to changing customer expectations

Knowledge in one or more of these specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: signals intelligence, space surveillance, geo-spatial intelligence, or space protection

How You Can Stand Out:

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

Graduate degree in one of the fields of study mentioned above

Current TS/SCI with polygraph

Technical knowledge of SIGINT satellite systems

Familiarity with the next generation SIGINT architecture or relevant mission knowledge

M&S experience in one of these areas: Performance Assessment, Geolocation, RF link budgets, Antenna modeling, Signal detection

Performance modeling experience with at least one space subsystem (antennas, receivers, mission payloads)

Knowledge of Intelligence Community or US Department of Defense business practices, acquisition policies, or space mission portfolios

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)

$129,000.00 – $249,600.00
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.