GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst

aero; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo is seeking a Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Senior/MST) to work with vehicle control and estimation analysis across DoD, civil, and commercial programs.

You will collaborate with government customers and contractors throughout the program lifecycle, from concept and prototyping to operations support, applying advanced control theory and software tools.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, CS or related field.
• Graduate coursework or hands-on experience in control systems, estimation theory, or dynamics.
• 1+ years developing control and dynamics simulations.
• Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink proficiency.
• Working knowledge of C/C++.
• Ability to obtain and maintain US security clearance (US citizenship required).
• Senior role requires 5 years of related technical experience; PhD could count toward senior requirements.

Responsibilities

• Participate in design, simulation, analysis and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems.
• Support concept development, trade studies, source selections, requirements analyses and test planning.
• Communicate results with government customers, program management and contractors.
• Develop and document new analysis tools and techniques.
• Engage with experts to advance state-of-the-art technical analysis.

Skills

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

C/C++

Security clearance

Control systems

Education

Master's degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/CS

PhD preferred

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.

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the intersection of space vehicle concepts and the enterprise data behind both current and future systems. From this position, VSD delivers innovative, cross-cutting research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; both concept- and tailored-design analysis; assembly, integration, and test support; and operational/mission support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical, aerospace, computer science, and electrical engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

Within this division, the Control Analysis Department (CAD) focuses on providing satellite attitude and payload pointing estimation and control system analysis for a wide variety of space programs/systems ranging from DoD and NRO to commercial. Applications may include small pathfinding CubeSats with prototype payloads (weighing a few kilograms total), all the way up to the more exquisite GPS constellation upon which countless users rely every day. In response to the rapidly evolving space environment of today, CAD leverages state-of-the-art tools, techniques, and knowledge to outpace the threat of tomorrow. As part of the Aerospace Corporation FFRDC, however, CAD is also better able to ensure such agile approaches are well-anchored in heritage proficiencies of space vehicle attitude control, dynamics, and estimation and payload pointing. From this fundamental foundation, this department engages in cutting-edge research and applies modern methods to emerging and related topics such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics to solve new and increasingly challenging problems.

As a Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Member of Technical Staff/Senior Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineering), you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders supporting technical oversight analysis of all phases of a program lifecycle: conceptual studies, prototyping, source selection, development, and operations.

This position is in El Segundo, requiring at least 4 days onsite.

What You'll Be Doing

• Participate in design, simulation, analysis, and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems on a variety of National Security Space programs, civil programs, and commercial programs
• Perform tasks in support of concept development, trade studies, source selections, requirements analyses, risk assessments, design analyses, simulation development, prototyping, test planning and execution, operations support, and anomaly resolution
• Communicate technical results both orally and in writing, interacting directly with government customers, program management, and contractors
• Research, develop, and document new analysis tools and techniques
• Engage with subject matter experts in continuous learning to drive the state-of-the-art technical analysis

What You Need to be Successful

• Master's degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline
• Graduate level coursework and/or in‑depth, hands‑on experience in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or dynamics
• One or more years of experience with developing control and dynamics simulations
• Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink
• Working knowledge with C/C++
• 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.
• In addition to the requirements above, the minimum requirements for a Senior Member of Technical Staff are:
• 5 years of related technical experience
• Proficiency, through PhD research or technical experience, in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or multibody dynamics

How You Can Stand Out

• It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
• PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Enginee