2027 Launch Operations Readiness Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care & wellness plans

Paid holidays & vacation

Telework options

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible spending accounts

Relocation assistance

Professional growth & development

Education assistance

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking talented engineers for the Launch Operations Readiness Team. You will contribute to analyses and software development supporting launch operations, collision avoidance, and risk assessment across multiple programs.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s or PhD in a related field with 0–1 years of postgraduate experience and can obtain a Top-Secret clearance. The position offers onsite work with opportunities for professional growth and relocation

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Aerospace engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related technical discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months).
• 0 to 1 year of professional postgraduate experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical analyses and software development across focus areas including operational launch collision avoidance, discrete event simulation, and risk assessment.
• Support real-time operations and analyses including launch and on-orbit collision risk assessments.
• Conduct deep dives, trade studies, and assessments with multidisciplinary teams to address customer needs.
• Develop and present briefings and reports with clear analysis results and recommended solutions.

Skills

Astrodynamics

Mathematics

Independent work

Team collaboration

Aptitude with space systems

Education

Master's or PhD in Aerospace engineering or related

Tools

Python

C++

Fortran

High Performance Computing

Job description

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.

Job Summary

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 and space-enabled capabilities.

Work Model

This position will require onsite support for a minimum of 4 days in either Chantilly, VA, El Segundo, CA or Colorado Springs, CO

What You’ll Be Doing

As a member of the Launch Operations Readiness Team, you will be providing technical capabilities to support our customers and address the challenges of launch operations and forecasting and range safety in the rapidly expanding US government launch enterprise.

• Contribute to a variety of projects involving technical analyses and software development relating to multiple focus areas of the section, including operational launch collision avoidance support, discrete event simulation and modeling, and/or risk assessment and mitigation due to interference from RF, light, and laser effects.
• Support real-time operations and analyses including launch and on-orbit collision risk assessments.
• Conduct technical deep dives, trade studies, and assessments both independently and in teams with multi-disciplinary technical leaders, Aerospace Program Office personnel, and external customers to define and address customer needs.
• Develop and present timely and technically accurate briefings and reports that clearly communicate analysis results and provide recommended solutions to technical leads, management, and customers.
• Travel occasionally (as necessary) to support customer efforts.

What You Need to be Successful

• Master's or PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related technical discipline (Pursuing or conferred within the last 12 months) 0 to 1 years of professional postgraduate experience
• Organizational skills, to include: Self-management of multiple tasks, deadlines, and deliverables Ability to take direction, work independently, and develop productive working relationships
• Aptitude with astrodynamics and related mathematics
• Skills in mathematical formulation and derivation
• Demonstrated skills in the development and use of computer software tools
• 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 are required.

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

• Experience with Python, C++, Fortran, and/or High Performance Computing environments
• Direct experience in primary department areas of support
• Technical skills in other related areas such as orbit determination, cataloging, database management, spacecraft operations, radar/electro-optics, space object and debris environment projection, on-orbit breakup forensics, passive and controlled disposal, de-orbit, and re-entry analysis, debris mitigation and remediation analysis, space situational awareness, space traffic management, and AI/ML data analytics.
• Meaningful and consistent contribution to a substantial technical analytical or development project through its successful fruition
• Expertise in team coordination and/or mentorship
• Current and active Top-Secret Clearance (TS) with SCI access

We offer a competitive compensation package

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

Ways We Reward Our Employees

• 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

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. 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, You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Right Path Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.