Multi-Disciplinary Vehicle Engineer

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; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The Vehicle Engineering Department (VED) is part of the Vehicle Systems Division, the premier satellite and launch vehicle technical organization within the Aerospace Corporation. The Engineering Specialist/ Senior Engineering Specialist- Multi-Disciplinary Engineering should have outstanding technical skills and the ability to assist the management team with expansion of our customer base. S/He will work within the Vehicle Actualization section, responsible for Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) for multiple spacecraft programs, multi-disciplinary project management, and generalist spacecraft hardware engineering with a holistic focus on vehicle interfaces.  In this position you will act as technical authority, lead interfaces between customers’ and Aerospace technical staff, and assist the management team with business development.  

Work Model 

This is a full-time position nominally based in Chantilly, VA offering a hybrid work model that combines (4) regular onsite workdays. This role will require access to an Aerospace SCIF on a regular basis and offer remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• You will provide spacecraft engineering support to multiple programs in AI&T, project management, and generalist spacecraft engineering  

• S/He will oversee multidisciplinary system–level acquisition, design, manufacture, integration and test activities for space vehicles and vehicle interfaces to launch vehicle and ground systems 

• Provide technical leadership in identifying, mitigating, and solving applicable satellite and subsystem risks and issues  

• You will provide project management of Vehicle Engineering’s support to the East Coast Labs and the Vehicle Autonomy Lab (VAL) 

• Leading and coordinating ETG technical teams to participate in internal research and development and technology transition projects in support of national security space customers 

• Develop and maintain strong, effective working relationships with internal and external customers and contractor counterparts  

• Generate and deliver written reports, risk assessments, recommendations, and presentations to the customer and Aerospace management  

• Assist the Vehicle Engineering management team with business development efforts and growth of the customer base  

• Identify new customers, focus areas, and develop new cross-divisional Aerospace partnerships 

• Participate in forward-deployed program office roles as a vehicle engineering lead   

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Engineering Specialist – Multi-Disciplinary Engineering​ include: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field is required

• (8) years of applicable professional experience in one or more of the following areas: mechanical design and analysis, design for manufacturing, optical-mechanical systems, environmental testing, propulsion, mechanisms, guidance and controls, thermal engineering, structures, aerospace engineering is required

• Experience in a laboratory setting 

• Demonstrated success in a multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program/project management environment 

• Success in leading small teams and coordinating the technical activities of multiple contributors 

• Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous tasking, synthesize and then deliver a product 

• Knowledge of space vehicle bus and/or payload subsystems and interfaces 

• Demonstration of progressively increasing responsibilities in work assignments / projects   

• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required) 

• A current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance 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 – Multi-Disciplinary Engineering​ include: 

• (12) years of applicable professional experience in one or more of the following areas: mechanical design and analysis, design for manufacturing, optical-mechanical systems, environmental testing, propulsion, mechanisms, guidance and controls, thermal engineering, structures, aerospace engineering, or multi-disciplinary project management  

• Experience in a chief engineer or generalist engineer role 

• Participation in business development efforts and growth of the customer base  

• Experience identifying new customers, focus areas, and developing partnerships across various business and engineering functions 

How You Can Stand Out  

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

• Advanced degree in a STEM field is preferred

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: electrical integration and testing, test hardware/software, electrical design, power systems, ground support equipment (electrical, mechanical, optical, test, etc.) is strongly preferred

• Experience as test director and/or test conductor during execution of subsystem or vehicle-level testing 

• Familiarity with U.S. government space acquisition policies and procedures is highly desirable

• Knowledge of satellite test standards and Aerospace mission assurance is preferred