Launch Operations and Integration Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 151,300 - 226,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care plans

401(k) plan with company matches

Professional growth programs

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is looking for a Senior Project Engineer for Launch Operations and Integration. This role, based in Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, involves providing technical evaluations on payload processing and launch infrastructure while working within an integrated government and contractor team.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, at least 10 years of systems engineering experience, and a current security clearance. Comprehensive benefits including health care and retirement plans are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant systems engineering experience.
• Experience with spacecraft launch site processing and launch vehicle processing.
• Current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject‑matter expertise on mission execution.
• Conduct readiness assessments and track mission requirements.
• Support formal readiness certification for launch activities.

Skills

Systems engineering principles

Mission assurance

Problem-solving

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or systems engineering

Tools

Data acquisition systems

Ground support equipment

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.

Position Overview

The Launch Operations and Integration Engineer (Senior Project Engineer – Systems and Mission Assurance Engineering) works full‑time onsite at the customer facility in Cape Canaveral SFS, FL. This role is part of an integrated government/contractor operations team and provides technical verifications and mission assurance activities for the National Systems Group (NSG) Launch Directorate, supporting the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Office of Space Launch (OSL).

Key Responsibilities

• Provide subject‑matter expertise to a government/contractor team focused on mission execution, including risk assessments, technical verifications, and readiness assessments.
• Deliver sound technical evaluation to the Government Director of Engineering (DE) and Director of Operations (DO) on payload processing and launch infrastructure, especially the Eastern Processing Facility (EPF) and CCSFS launch complexes, on aggressive timelines.
• Conduct deep dive technical support through robust Mission Assurance and Engineering application and lead Aerospace engineering matrix resources to tackle complex problems.
• Track mission requirements, assess against the services’ capability baseline, and evaluate Interface Control Documents (ICD) against mission requirements.
• Evaluate designs, concepts of operation, requirements, processes, procedures, corrective action reports, and non‑recurring engineering efforts.
• Recommend courses of action to remedy observed shortfalls or discrepancies between new or upgraded systems/processes and established operating baselines.
• Provide systems engineering guidance, review, assessments, and recommendations as part of integrated mission teams responsible for launch site space vehicle processing, from transport through on‑orbit delivery.
• Support program milestones and day‑of‑launch readiness activities, providing objective readiness assessments for formal readiness certification.
• Conduct day‑of‑launch on‑console assessments of real‑time technical data.
• Evaluate non‑intelligence‑community satellites processing through the EPF for potential risks to OSL infrastructure and impacts to other concurrently processing satellites.
• Assist in the development, testing, and operations of launch base products, processes, and/or systems.
• Support the OSL Chief Engineer’s Office from a Cape launch perspective, including new entrant status, risk assessments, documentation review, and operations support.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or systems engineering or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant systems engineering experience with progressively increasing responsibilities.
• Experience with spacecraft launch site processing, launch vehicle processing, launch site infrastructure systems, data acquisition systems, ground support equipment engineering design, or spacecraft integration and testing.
• Proactive problem‑solving approach and ability to work autonomously.
• Demonstrated use of systems engineering principles, concepts, and practices.
• Ability to team and communicate with a broad range of customers, colleagues, contractors, and senior government leadership.
• Solid understanding of spacecraft processing systems including air and road transport, mechanical ground support equipment, radio frequency detection/protection, and/or environmental monitoring systems.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (approximately 10%).
• Current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree from an accredited program in aerospace, mechanical, or related STEM discipline.
• Experience in launch site satellite vehicle processing, propellant systems, integration, testing, and countdown operations.
• Ability to apply systems engineering and technical analysis principles, theories, and methods to assess satellite processing requirements, launch site infrastructure capabilities, procedures, and mission assurance verifications.
• Program office experience or prior experience in requirements development, acquisition, and project/engineering management.
• Experience with national security space systems characterization, testing, demonstration, and operations.

Compensation

Pay Basis: Annual. Grade‑based pay range: $151,300.00 – $226,900.00.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
• 401(k) plan with company‑matched contributions and immediate vesting.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
• Relocation assistance.
• Professional growth and development programs.
• Education assistance programs.

Leadership Competencies

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

Equal Opportunity Statement

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].