Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) System Test Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 151,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Relocation assistance

Flexible spending accounts

Education assistance programs

Professional growth and development

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is a trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving hard problems with unmatched technical expertise. We operate as an FFDRDC delivering solutions across satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers.

Senior Project Engineer – Systems Engineering leads integrated test campaigns, collaborates with government and SE&I leads, and guides risk‑based decisions to ensure robust system test flows for complex space programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering discipline.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in integration and test.
• Experience with DoD, USAF, and/or USSF Test and Evaluation policy, guidance, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain trusted relationships with government customers, SETA contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills for interactions at all levels of government and corporate leadership.
• Requires an active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to the ESS program office in developing and executing an integrated system test campaign across a multi‑contractor system baseline.
• Work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with government, SETA, SE&I and other FFRDC leads to ensure system test is well integrated with the broader program systems engineering approach.
• Support government collaboration with key external test organizations to include those responsible for conducting OT&E.
• Lead the test team in proactively identifying test‑related risk and opportunity trades, executing technical assessments of contractor test artifacts and present findings to government decision makers.
• Conduct risk and opportunity trades, and assess contractor test artifacts for adequacy and integration into the broader system test flow.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering discipline

12+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in integration and test

Job description

Aerospace Corporation – Senior Project Engineer – Systems Engineering

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.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership to the ESS program office in developing and executing an integrated system test campaign across a multi‑contractor system baseline.
• Work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with government, SETA, SE&I and other FFRDC leads to ensure system test is well integrated with the broader program systems engineering approach.
• Support government collaboration with key external test organizations to include those responsible for conducting OT&E.
• Lead the test team in proactively identifying test‑related risk and opportunity trades, executing technical assessments of contractor test artifacts and present findings to government decision makers.
• Conduct risk and opportunity trades, and assess contractor test artifacts for adequacy and integration into the broader system test flow.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements – Senior Project Engineer – Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering

• Bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering discipline.
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in integration and test.
• Experience with specific phases of system assessments to include system requirements breakdown, test design/design of experiments, test planning, test execution, and test reporting.
• Experience with DoD, USAF, and/or USSF Test and Evaluation policy, guidance, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain trusted relationships with government customers, SETA contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills for interactions at all levels of government and corporate leadership.
• Requires an active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time.

How You Can Stand Out

• An advanced degree in a relevant technical area.
• Experience working large, complex issues and the ability to break down problems into meaningful steps to accomplish with a team.
• Program office and management experience; experience directing matrixed technical support teams.
• Proficiency in DoD/IC space systems.
• Experience with SATCOM/MILSATCOM technologies and operations.
• Experience with developing, testing, and/or operating space systems.
• Experience working in a program office with a government customer is desirable.
• In‑depth knowledge of DoD acquisitions, satellite communication, cyber operations, and ground systems.

Compensation

The grade‑based pay range for this job is $151,300.00–$226,900.00 per year.

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver 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.

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].