2027 Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Relocation assistance

Education support

Flexible scheduling

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California seeks a Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer (Sr. MTS - Physics) to advance national security space programs. You will conduct experiments, design new tests, and support flight EP systems with hands-on lab work.

Candidates hold a PhD in a relevant field, 0–1 year of industry experience, and experience with propulsion physics, vacuum systems, and power electronics. U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year of industry work experience
• Experience in electric propulsion or relevant plasma science
• Working knowledge of physics and testing of electric propulsion devices
• Working knowledge of physics of electrostatic discharge or plasma-material interaction
• Working knowledge of power electronics and data acquisitions systems
• Experience with vacuum systems, compressed gases, and cryogenics

Responsibilities

• Perform technical assessment, research and development, risk mitigation, and anomaly investigation through lab experimentation and analysis
• Support scientists and engineers of the EP&PS section and interface with internal support organizations
• Employ a wide range of hands-on laboratory and research skills
• Design, fabricate, instrument, and troubleshoot new experiments and maintain existing ones
• Develop capabilities and readiness for EP&PS test infrastructure
• Adapt to new duties as needed by the customer

Skills

Electric propulsion experience

Plasma science knowledge

Lab work

Education

PhD in aerospace/ electrical/ mechanical/ physics

Tools

NI LabVIEW

DAQ systems

PLC programming

Vacuum systems

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. Physical Sciences Laboratories (PSL) supports the effective and timely development and operation of national security systems through scientific research and the application of advanced technologies. PSL has more than 150 specialized laboratories used to test, analyze, and troubleshoot virtually every aspect of rocket and satellite system design, development, construction, deployment, and operation. The expertise of the laboratories’ technical staff allows PSL to stay abreast of new technological developments and program support issues associated with rapidly evolving space systems. The Electric Propulsion & Plasma Science section experimentally studies low-temperature plasma space technologies. This includes performing experiments to resolve flight anomalies as well as characterizing commercial plasma devices using our extensive plasma physics expertise. With a range of test facilities at our disposal, including several equipped for firing high-power electric thrusters, we can explore a wide range of electric propulsion topics. In support of flight programs, the section also investigates other plasma-adjacent phenomena like electrostatic discharge, multipactor breakdown, and unique forms of plasma-material interaction.

We are looking for a Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer (Sr. Member of Technical Staff - Physics).

Highlights of our lab's capabilities can be seen here: Virtual Tour

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility in El Segundo, California.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Performing technical assessment, research and development, risk mitigation, and anomaly investigation and resolution through laboratory experimentation and analysis
• Directly supporting scientists and engineers of the EP&PS section in this function as well as interfacing as needed with other internal support organizations
• Exercising a wide range of hands-on laboratory and research skills
• Designing, fabricating, instrumenting, and troubleshooting of new experiments as well as maintenance of existing experiments
• Developing capabilities and readiness for the EP&PS test infrastructure
• Adapting to new duties, responsibility, and activities are needed by the customer

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Sr MTS position include:

• PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year of industry work experience
• Experience in the field of electric propulsion or a relevant plasma science
• Working knowledge of physics and testing of electric propulsion devices
• Working knowledge of physics of electrostatic discharge or plasma-material interaction
• Working knowledge of power electronics and data acquisitions systems
• Experience with vacuum systems, compressed gases, and cryogenics

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

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Experience in a research or manufacturing environment
• Experience with mechanical CAD design and analysis software
• Experience with maintaining and troubleshooting NI LabVIEW programs, DAQ systems, and PLC programming
• Experience working in and maintaining a high vacuum test facility
• Demonstrated experience with EMI/EMC testing
• Industry experience working with flight EP systems
• Demonstrated participation in EP or plasma science professional associations

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) $100,300.00 - $150,400.00 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

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.

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, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail] . 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.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.

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