Ground System Concept Engineer/Senior Ground System Concept Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•Chantilly, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Enterprise Effects Division (EED) integrates strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, from concept and architecture design through performance assessment and application of space and space-enabled capabilities. The Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department (VGCD) provides preliminary and conceptual design, trade and architecture analysis, modeling, process development, and tool development for space vehicles and ground systems. As a member of VGCD, you will develop spacecraft and ground-segment solutions for mission needs across US Space Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, NOAA, and commercial and international customers. The role leads and participates in ground-system architecture, concept, and preliminary-design studies. It works across disciplines and organizations to frame problems, assess gaps and trade spaces, explore concepts, define capabilities and interfaces, evaluate designs, and communicate findings. The role also contributes to tools and models for ground-system concept design and analysis and mentors early-career colleagues. This position follows an in-person work model, requiring at least four onsite days per week at the company’s Chantilly, Virginia campus. Domestic and international travel of approximately 5–10% is expected. An active U.S. government Top Secret/SCI security clearance is required; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance. The annual pay range is $117,300–$226,900, with individual salary determined by factors including education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field.
For Engineering Specialist: typically at least 6 years of engineering experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains.
For Senior Engineering Specialist: typically at least 12 years of substantive experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains.
Proficiency in system architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering.
Demonstrated experience in ground-system development, mission control, or mission processing for space systems.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively on teams composed of members from organizations across Aerospace.
Exceptional time-management skills and the ability to balance concurrent projects and schedule commitments.
Availability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally approximately 5–10%.
Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government.
U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance.
For the senior level, demonstrated success organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products.
For the senior level, experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior-level management and technical design artifacts for engineering-level reviews.
For the senior level, demonstrated ability to collaborate with external partners from customer organizations, acquisition program offices, and contractors.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in engineering, math, science, or a related technical discipline.
Demonstrated experience with concurrent engineering tools, processes, and methodologies.
Experience working closely with key Aerospace customer agencies in the Intelligence Community, including strong knowledge of their domain and professional networks.
Demonstrated experience with commercial cloud offerings.
Demonstrated experience with antenna or other hardware related to ground entry points.
Demonstrated experience with software, software process approaches such as waterfall or agile, and software standards.
Experience with the Satellite Control Network (SCN) or Intelligence Community ground control networks.
Experience with telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) or tactical command and control (C2).
Hands-on experience with system or enterprise modeling using SysML, UAF, or UPDM.
Proficiency in one or more simulation tools or programming languages, including MATLAB, Python, Simulink, STK, C++, or SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

Lead and participate in ground-system architecture, concept, and preliminary-design studies.
Work with multidisciplinary engineering teams on problem framing, gap analysis, trade-space assessment, and concept exploration.
Coordinate expertise across Aerospace disciplines and domains to support concurrent engineering approaches to complex problems.
Define system capabilities, system-of-systems interfaces, and requirements for space, ground, and intersegment architectures based on user needs and perspectives.
Evaluate ground-system design and architecture concepts and participate in design reviews.
Communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations through briefings and formal technical reports.
Mentor early-career department members.
Develop tools and models that support ground-system concept design and analysis.
For the senior level, organize and lead cross-functional, cross-organizational teams conducting studies and assessments and producing quality deliverables.
For the senior level, develop and present strategic decision-making and strategic communications materials for senior management, as well as technical design materials for engineering reviews.
For the senior level, collaborate with external partners from customer organizations, acquisition program offices, and contractors.

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-paid contributions of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
Flexible spending accounts.
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
Relocation assistance.
Professional growth and development programs.
Education assistance programs.
Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.