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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.
The Imagery Programs Division (IPD) is looking for a Space-Based SAR Systems Engineer (Project Engineer/Senior Project Engineer – Signal & Image Processing Engineering) to work on advanced RADAR programs for the Aerospace GEOINT Research and Technology Directorate. In this position, you will have an opportunity to lead Aerospace activities that assist Government customers in planning, negotiating, and executing critical technology development activities, experimental programs, and study activities. You will communicate programmatic and technical issues and provide independent recommendations to Aerospace management, the Government customer and other contractors. As a SAR Space-Based Systems Engineer you will work within Aerospace and across programmatic boundaries to enable Aerospace contributions to the GEOINT and Technology Development enterprise.
Work Model:
This full time position requires 100% on site work in Chantilly, VA
What You’ll Be Doing
- Assist the Government GEOINT Research and Technology Office customers in successfully planning, negotiating, and executing crucial space system technology development and acquisition decisions.
- Lead analysis and develop recommendations for the customer in support of future RADAR systems and architectures.
- Lead analysis and collaboration on development and implementation of electronic protection across the customer community.
- Communicate programmatic and technical issues and provide independent recommendations to Aerospace management, the Government customer and other contractors.
- Integrate Aerospace activities to focus the strength of the corporation on helping the customer realize future capabilities.
- Provide input to lessons learned and best practices across the department, division, group and corporation.
- Identify Aerospace research opportunities to advance the state of art for GEOINT RADAR systems including hardware, applications, supporting methods, and tools.
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for the: Project Engineer – Signal & Image Processing Engineering
- Degree in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering or related technical discipline
- A minimum of 6 years of experience
- Experience with SAR space-based systems
- Familiarity with space system payload development, from requirements specification through development, manufacturing, testing, verification, and on-orbit operations
- This position requires a current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph, 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 Project Engineer – Signal & Image Process Engineering include:
- A minimum of 12 years of experience
- Experience with signal processing and/or system architecting in the areas of SAR space based systems
- Experience supporting advanced technology requirements development to meet emerging mission needs
- Acquisition experience with verifying and validating contractor designs and approaches
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Experience with GMTI mission
- Experience with designing a payload
- Strong experience working with implementation and analysis of SAR system
- Experience with electronic protection technology, CONOPs and familiarity with the community.
- Knowledge of hardware processing and architecting in the areas of FPGAs and GPUs
- An advanced degree in mathematics, physics or electrical engineering
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.
