On-Orbit Test and Ops Technical Lead

aero; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA is seeking an On-Orbit Test and Ops Technical Lead to guide on-orbit test planning, execution, and transition to operations. You will shepherd space vehicles through launch, LEOPs, and on-orbit testing while coordinating with government and contractor teams.

This role emphasizes leadership, test documentation, and integration of DT/OT activities across multiple venues, with a path towardFD/OA decisions and tactical procedures development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant Engineering, Math, or Science subject area.
• 12+ years of engineering experience in space vehicle or payload projects.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance or ability to obtain.
• Willingness to travel 10–20%.

Responsibilities

• Be the El Segundo based acquisition program point-of-presence for the on-orbit test and ops team.
• Advise leadership on test requirements, fielding decisions and FD/OA criteria.
• Lead DT/OT efforts across multiple venues: modeling/simulation, space, ground, software, cyber.
• Develop TEMPs, GTOs, STOs, test plans and test reports for major programs.
• Design and facilitate tabletop exercises to validate concepts before on-orbit ops.
• Coordinate with commands, agencies, SETA/UARC/FFRDC partners and contractors.

Skills

Systems engineering

Test planning

Leadership

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science/math

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

As the Aerospace On-Orbit Test and Ops Technical Lead in the Special Programs Division, Space Domain Superiority Directorate, you will serve as the Aerospace On-Orbit Test and Ops lead technical advisor to the SYD89/SYM government team. This role will shepherd multiple space vehicles through launch, LEOPs, on-orbit test, and operations; and will work with stakeholders across the national security space enterprise on a rapidly growing top priority program within the Space Combat Power portfolio. You will provide technical leadership to the program driving developmental and operational testing (DT/OT) from initial planning through fielding decisions and operational acceptance (FD/OA), and supporting post-operational acceptance activities such as development of tactics, test, and procedures (TTP). This role emphasizes operational transition, test documentation development, and bridging acquisition, test, and operations communities. You will work with stakeholders across the national security space enterprise including operational commands, test agencies, and development contractors. Eventually this position will be split into separate Test and Ops positions.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Be the El Segundo based acquisition program point-of-presence for the national on-orbit test and ops team, which includes other government, UARC, and SETA organizations

• Serve as the Aerospace technical lead for on-orbit test and evaluation (T&E) and operations, advising program leadership and operational stakeholders on test requirements, fielding decision and operational acceptance (FD/OA) criteria, and best practices for transitioning space systems to operational employment
• Provide strategic insight to Aerospace leadership and the customer on on-orbit test- and ops-related risks, issues, gaps, and opportunities; recommending mitigation strategies and corrective actions to support progression towards operational acceptance milestones
• Support execution of integration DT/OT efforts across five test venues: modeling & simulation, space, ground, software, and cyber segments, with an emphasis on operational test planning, on-orbit checkout, and transition to operational control
• Apply test and verification/validation (V&V) methodologies from terrestrial military systems and space domain best practices to support customer development of acquisition documents, test strategies, and operational transition plans
• Support development of critical test documentation including Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs), General Test Objectives (GTOs), Specific Test Objectives (STOs), test procedures, and test reports; and operational products including CONOPs, CONEMPs, TTPs, and training materials in coordination with the Lead Development Test Organization (LDTO) & Operational Test Organization (OTO)

• Design and facilitate tabletop exercises (TTXs) with stakeholders to develop and validate operational concepts, procedures, and employment scenarios prior to on-orbit operations

• Assess system and architecture trades across space, ground, and cyber segments for impacts on test strategy, requirement verification, operational suitability, and fielding timeline
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships across acquisition, test, and operations communities including customer program leadership, operational commands, operational test agencies, and SETA/UARC/FFRDC partners, development contractors, Aerospace ETG and other program office support organizations
• Lead the Aerospace team in the execution of the test and operations responsibilities of the acquisition program office, to include the coordination of subject matter experts and the integration of inputs to provide corporate and customer leadership with technical advice
• Support anomaly resolution and provide technical guidance during LEOPs and on-orbit operations

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

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer – Systems Test Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant Engineering, Math, or Science subject area
• 12 or more years of engineering experience supporting space vehicle or space payload development projects

• Proven track record of leading integrated, geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary, multi-organizational teams and interfacing effectively with senior government leadership
• Strong background in systems engineering, test, and evaluation, and operational transition with experience supporting military and/or space systems through fielding decisions and operational acceptance
• Familiarity with Space Force organizational structure, space operations concepts, and operational test processes
• Experience authoring test documentation including TEMPs, GTOs, STOs, test plans, and test reports for major acquisition programs
• This position requires a current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government; U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. This position requires the ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) clearances.
• Willingness to travel 10-20% of the time

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Experience with non-space military systems developmental and operational test, including formal OT execution and interaction with operational test agencies
• Experience supporting military systems through fielding decisions and operational acceptance, including preparation of FD/OA packages and briefings
• Experience designing and facilitating tabletop exercises (TTXs), wargames, or operational concept development activities
• Experience with space systems on-orbit test planning and execution, including on-orbit checkout and operational transition
• Prior military experience as an operator, crew member, or mission controller
• Previous military acquisition program office experience working with multi-disciplinary teams