2027 Space Enterprise Optimization Analyst

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

401(k) Plan

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Telework options

Paid holidays, sick time, vacation

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a highly skilled technical staff member to advance space architecture design and optimization, including constellation performance modeling. You will work across multiple programs to deliver analyses and tools supporting decision-makers and customers.

The role requires advanced degrees (MS/PhD) in aerospace/related fields, strong programming skills, and the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• MS degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months).
• 0-1 year of industry work experience.
• Experience with constellation design, orbital mechanics, or mathematics related to satellite access geometry.
• Knowledge of Python, C, C++, MATLAB, or another programming language.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance; US citizenship required.
• Transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Independently and collaboratively conduct deep dives, trade studies, and assessments to address customer needs in space architecture design and optimization.
• Leverage analysis tools to deliver insights through deep dives and trade studies.
• Contribute to development of analysis software tools and enhance simulation/analysis capabilities.
• Develop and present timely, technically accurate presentations and reports to leads, management, and customers.
• Build and maintain a base of customers and collaborators through cross-organization partnerships and contractors.
• Lead and mentor small teams in routine analysis and development tasks.

Skills

Orbital mechanics

Constellation design

Python

C

C++

MATLAB

TS/SCI clearance

US citizenship

Education

MS in aerospace/astronautical/mechanical engineering or related field

PhD in aerospace/astronautical/mechanical engineering or related field

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 wide-ranging and 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.

The Space Enterprise Design and Optimization Department (SEDOD) is in EED’s Enterprise Design Subdivision (EDS). We bring to bear expertise in a wide variety of fields to tackle tough problems and explore novel ideas, focusing on the performance modeling, analysis, and optimization of orbits, mission architectures, and acquisition portfolios to inform the future of the national space enterprise.

As part of SEDOD and EDS, a member of our technical staff will employ and develop sophisticated simulation tools to perform space and ground design, optimization, and analysis in support of architecture concept trade studies, requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives, and performance modeling. Additionally, this staff member will leverage optimization techniques and astrodynamics expertise to provide responsive analyses integrating space vehicle design with constellation optimization. They will act as a technical expert for a portfolio of high-impact projects, in addition to working on teams and collaborating with other analysts to expand their domain knowledge.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly, VA; El Segundo, CA; or Colorado Springs, CO, offering an in-person work model that combines 4 or more regular onsite workdays per week and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Independently and collaboratively conducting deep dives, trade studies, and assessments to define and address customer needs in the areas of space architecture design and optimization and trade space exploration
• Leveraging in-house and commercial- and government-off-the-shelf engineering analysis tools to deliver technical insights through analytical deep dives, trade studies, and assessments in department focus areas
• Contributing to the development of analysis software tools and actively pursuing opportunities to enhance and improve existing simulation and analysis capabilities for a wide range of customers
• Developing and presenting timely and technically accurate presentations and reports that clearly communicate analysis results and provide recommended solutions to technical leads, management, and customers
• Building and maintaining a strong base of customers and collaborators for the department through effective working relationships with cross-organization partners, government customers, and contractor teammates

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements

• M.S. degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field of science or engineering (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year of industry work experience
• Experience with constellation design, orbital mechanics, or mathematics related to satellite access geometry
• Knowledge of Python, C, C++, MATLAB, or another programming language
• Ability to support multiple programs and/or activities, acting as a technical contributor across both individual and broader team efforts
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance with CI polygraph, which is issued by the US government.
• U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Transcripts required

Minimum Requirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff

• PhD degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field of science or engineering (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• Ability to lead and mentor small teams in conducting routine analysis and development tasks as part of larger project efforts

How You Can Stand Out

• Background in one or more of the following areas: optimization techniques, genetic algorithms, space mission design, satellite constellation performance modeling, satellite orbit access analysis, simulation development, or payload/bus design
• Familiarity with one of these specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: geo-spatial intelligence, signals intelligence, missile warning/tracking/defense, space surveillance, space protection, or satellite communication networks
• Experience independently creating, executing, and debugging modeling and simulation tools
• Current TS/SCI access with a current CI polygraph

Compensation and Pay

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 ChangeEngage with ImpactFoster InnovationDeliver Results

Benefits

• 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 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

Airspace 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.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.