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.
At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.
The Communication Technologies and Engineering Division (CTED) represents the disciplines of communications, networking, and PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing) in support of space missions, along with their enabling technologies. In our domain, CTED projects comprise all aspects, from architectures to prototypes to implementation, theoretical to hands-on. Our engineers work directly with corporate and U.S. Government customers to ensure robust and resilient communications.
In this role as a Communications Engineer (Engineering Specialist or Senior Engineering Specialist), you will work on-site with our Aerospace program office team, our customer and their SETA contractors to achieve the goal of engineering highly advanced space communication solutions which expand upon existing legacy capabilities. These include enabling higher capacity, communications security, network architecting and evolving space cyber security methods and techniques. Your responsibilities will be focused on supporting our government customer’s mission to develop transformational space communication and networking architectures and solutions that support interoperability with existing and planned systems based on robust system engineering analyses.
Work Model: This position requires 100% on site work in Chantilly, VA.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Analyze and develop robust communication payloads, techniques, waveforms, and architectures in different physical domains
- Manage a portfolio focused on improving communications and cyber capabilities and recommend future R&D efforts
- Provide subject matter expertise in communication systems hardware and software, systems engineering and mission assurance
- Coordinate with customer and contracting teams to evaluate contractor progress on existing programs, to develop new R&D programs, and to ensure any research proposal evaluations are completed in a timely manner
- Coordinate research and development programs across Aerospace and government organizations.
- Engage diverse matrixed technical personnel to support multiple projects
What You Need to be Successful – Engineering Specialist
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or related applicable technical discipline
- Eight or more years of increasing responsible related engineering experience
- Experience in communication systems hardware and software, RF systems, microelectronics, system engineering, unit level requirements, system development, or related field.
- Ability to understand interfaces between payload and networking systems and requirements.
- Experience working across multiple projects or programs, and/or tasking matrixed technical personnel; ability to close projects and programs.
- Local travel to off-site meetings and occasional CONUS air travel may be expected.
- This position requires a current and active TS/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Engineering Specialist:
- Twelve or more years of related experience in satellite communications systems engineering
- A demonstrated ability to define and initiate projects, lead technical teams, successfully perform technical studies and interface with multiple stakeholders
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- An understanding of government acquisition processes and practices used in DoD and IC acquisitions
- Prior program office experience or ability to work in a highly dynamic Program Office environment with a mix of government, FFRDC, and SETA personnel
- Ability to grasp and learn innovative and cutting-edge technologies and technological concepts (e.g. space networking, cyber)
- An advanced degree in engineering, computer science or related applicable technical discipline
- Strong personal initiative, enthusiastic self-starter; excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
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 diverse 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.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
