Tracking Architecture Performance Department, Section Manager

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Paid holidays

Telework options

401(k) matching

Education assistance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo seeks a seasoned engineer to join the Enterprise Effects Division and support modeling, simulation, and analysis of tracking architectures in nominal and contested environments.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, 6+ years of experience, strong Python and C++ skills, and a current TS/SCI clearance. This onsite role offers opportunities to lead projects, mentor staff, and advance space-domain awareness initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible engineering experience.
• Experience with tracking architectures and contested scenario concepts.
• Experience Python, C++ or other programming languages.
• Current TS/SCI Clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Translate program office needs into modeling, simulation, and analysis project plans and tasks.
• Initiate and participate in collaboration opportunities across program offices and interdisciplinary technical organizations.
• Develop modeling and simulation products to answer questions about tracking performance in nominal and contested scenarios.
• Develop and present briefings and reports for program offices and customers.
• Use and contribute to in‑house and commercial/off‑the‑shelf tools and analysis products.

Skills

Python

C++

TS/SCI clearance

Tracking architectures

Engineering experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) integrates Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, applying a broad range of engineering disciplines to a dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. The division spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment and the application of space and space‑enabled capabilities. TAPD is part of EED's Integrated Performance Subdivision (IPS). It conducts model‑based analyses of tracking performance across architecture scenarios in both nominal and contested operating environments. The department supports customers through concept development, engineering analysis, algorithm development, and evaluation of tracking performance for Radar, Electro‑Optical (EO), Infrared (IR), Electronic Warfare (EW), space domain awareness (SDA), and missile warning/missile tracking (MW/MT) for single‑INT and multi‑INT architectures. TAPD mission focus includes missile defense, SDA, and surveillance architectures. Modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) products developed by TAPD include architecture evaluations, what‑if analyses, and the development, tuning, and optimization of multi‑sensor tracking algorithms. TAPD work helps decision‑makers understand system performance, identify gaps, assess vulnerability and resiliency, and improve architectural designs.

Technical Responsibilities

• Translate program office needs into modeling, simulation, and analysis project plans and tasks.
• Initiate and participate in collaboration opportunities across program offices and interdisciplinary technical organizations to develop innovative solutions and optimal efficiencies.
• Develop modeling and simulation products to answer various customer questions regarding tracking performance in the context of various nominal and contested scenarios.
• Develop and present briefings and reports for program offices and customers.
• Use and contribute to the development of in‑house and commercial‑ and government‑off‑the‑shelf engineering software tools and analysis products.

Project Management Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day oversight and technical guidance into the work done in your section.
• Identify, coordinate, and assign work activities to direct reports and facilitate timely completion of these efforts.
• Effectively communicate and manage conflict and competing priorities.
• Build and maintain a strong base of customers and collaborators for the section.
• Review section work products for quality and accuracy.

Talent Management Responsibilities

• Develop staff through formal and informal performance management, evaluation, mentoring/coaching, and tasking.
• Lead full‑time staff and student intern recruiting, hiring, and onboarding efforts.
• Promote sharing and exchange of knowledge and information.

Work Model

This position is onsite at El Segundo, Colorado Springs, Huntsville or Chantilly with some limited hybrid (telework) opportunities.

What You Need to be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, astronautical, mechanical, or software), computer science, physics, mathematics, or closely related technical field from an accredited school.
• 6 years of progressively more responsible engineering experience.
• Experience with tracking architectures, sensing phenomenology and various nominal and contested scenario concepts.
• Experience Python, C++ or other programming languages.
• Current TS/SCI Clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

• An advanced degree in applicable STEM areas.
• Experience as a technical/project lead in end‑to‑end, enterprise‑level analysis and understanding of mission concepts including space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking or other contested environments.
• Expertise with the following: tracking algorithms, surveillance architectures, multi‑phenomenology sensing and kill‑chain interdependencies.
• Experience with Modern software development methodologies, tools, processes, and hardware, distributed frameworks, automated workflows with CI/CD, and cloud computing.
• Experience in a people management role.
• Current Top Secret/SCI Clearance with polygraph and/or special programs access.
• Ability to form and lead highly productive intra‑ and inter‑organizational teams.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment under ambiguous and fluctuating customer expectations.
• Ability to identify, prioritize, and delegate tasks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of customers, staff and management chain.

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

• 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]. 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.

U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.

Salary

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) $147,600.00 - $221,400.00 Pay Basis: Annual