Space Data Network (SDN) Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Comprehensive health care

Telework options

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Colorado Springs seeks a Space Data Network Engineer for the Space Warfighting Analysis Office. You will support next‑gen SDN systems for DoD customers, identify gaps, and lead interdisciplinary teams to deliver robust data infrastructure and analyses.

Core requirements include a BS in engineering/science, 3 years in engineering/scientific roles, familiarity with space communications, and an active Top Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field.
• 3 years of professional engineering/scientific experience.
• Two+ years in two or more areas: optimization, orbital dynamics modeling, RF systems modeling, system load analysis, embedded systems development and test, wireless communications development and test.
• Two+ years in systems integration, architecture trades, modeling and simulation, concept of operations development.
• Familiarity with space-based communications systems and network topologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills.
• Willing to travel ~20% domestically or internationally.
• Active Top Secret security clearance; US citizenship; willing to take polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Support SWAC crafting next-generation Space Data Network systems for the Joint Warfighter.
• Identify gaps, propose and assist in implementing solutions to improve SDN systems.
• Plan, assign, and manage workload of interdisciplinary teams to meet requirements.
• Collaborate onsite with the customer and Aerospace program offices to address issues.
• Lead data infrastructure development activities and communicate findings to leadership.

Skills

Systems engineering

Program management

Space communications

RF systems modeling

Orbital dynamics modeling

Architecture trades

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering/science/mathematics

Advanced degree (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.

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 Materiel 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. We are not just building satellites; we are constructing the future of defense, one innovative solution at a time. As the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, we tackle the most complex challenges with unmatched technical expertise.

The Space Warfighting Analysis Office within our Aerospace Space Security Directorate is seeking a driven Space Data Network Engineer to support our DoD customers. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing

Participate in technical teams supporting the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) crafting next-generation Space Data Network (SDN) systems for the Joint Warfighter. Identify gaps and opportunities, propose and assist in the implementation of solutions to improve the effectiveness, coherence, and technical depth of future SDN systems. Plan, assign, and manage the workload of interdisciplinary teams to meet challenging customer requirements. Collaborate and function effectively in an onsite environment with the customer and work with the various Aerospace program offices and the Aerospace Engineering and Technical Group (ETG) to address technical and programmatic issues and provide the customer with the best available technical analyses and recommendations. Be positioned to help address the breadth and depth of SDN systems engineering and integration challenges and issues, build end-to-end processes and models, and lead data infrastructure development activities Make a tangible impact by communicating your findings to leadership at Aerospace and the government, ensuring your work directly influences national security strategy.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff - Enterprise Systems Engineering

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field from a recognized institution.
• 3 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments.
• Two or more years of technical experience in two or more of the following mathematical optimization, orbital dynamics modeling, RF systems modeling, system load analysis, embedded systems development and test, wireless communications development and test.
• Two or more years of experience in one or more of the following: systems integration, architecture trades, modeling and simulation, concept of operations development.
• Familiarity with space-based communications systems and network topologies.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills and adept at oral and written communication.
• Willing to travel [occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally] approx. 20%
• Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Active Top Secret security clearance: eligible for Top Secret SCI and SAP/SAR clearances, which are issued by the US government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Applicant must be willing to take a US government administered polygraph test.

How You Can Stand Out

• It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: Advanced degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or other relevant technical fields.
• Substantive knowledge of military and commercial communications system missions, designs, and operations.
• Understanding of national space architectures, both traditional/legacy, and proliferated.
• Demonstrated experience briefing Government leaders (GS13/14/15 or O4/O5).
• Experience working with the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Security and Defense Program, US Space Force, or US Space Command.
• Experience with one or more space system development program offices.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.

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) $100,300.00 - $150,400.00
• 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 Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading 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

An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect. We are all unique, from various background 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

Aerospace 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.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.