Relay Ground Stations (RGS) Systems Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking an experienced Relay Ground Stations (RGS) Systems Engineer to work within an integrated program office supporting RGS within the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s Strategic Missile Warning Ground Infrastructure. The role applies systems engineering and integration expertise to systems that relay Space Vehicle mission and state-of-health data to the Mission Control Station, supporting missile warning missions that include DSP and SBIRS/OPIR Next Generation Geosynchronous programs. The position is full-time and requires working on-site at the company’s El Segundo, California facility. The engineer will support mission assurance across legacy antenna upgrades and new antenna development, contribute to ground and system-level systems engineering and integration teams, and represent the Ground Segment in contractor deliverable reviews and test definition, planning, and execution. The role also supports new acquisition efforts through requirements development and integration planning, advises leadership and customers on risks and mitigation strategies, and assesses space-ground mission trades and relay performance at system-level design reviews. The engineer will build working relationships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG, and support teams across the missile warning enterprise. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related STEM field and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience working across government programs. The senior project engineer level requires at least 12 years of experience and leadership experience in systems engineering, requirements development, and test/validation. An active U.S. government Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship are required. Travel to contractor and vendor facilities may be required.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution, or a degree in a related STEM field.
- At least 8 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering or scientific experience working across government programs.
- Experience in systems engineering, requirements development, and test/validation.
- Skills in performing risk and schedule assessments.
- Ability to lead and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams with Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel.
- Strong verbal and written interpersonal and communication skills.
- Active Secret clearance issued by the U.S. government.
- U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance.
- For the Sr. Project Engineer level: at least 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering or scientific experience working across government programs.
- For the Sr. Project Engineer level: leadership experience in programs related to systems engineering, requirements development, and test/validation.
- For the Sr. Project Engineer level: experience leading and working effectively in multidisciplinary teams with Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or a related field.
- Direct experience in the Missile Warning or Tracking mission area; familiarity with DSP, SBIRS, or OPIR/NGG/NGP systems is a bonus.
- Hands-on experience with ground antenna systems, including antenna upgrades, new antenna development, or RF ground infrastructure.
- Demonstrated space/ground segment integration experience, particularly relaying SV mission and state-of-health data to ground control stations.
- Understanding of ground system acquisition processes.
- Experience working within software agile processes.
- Ability to perform system-level optimization among cost, schedule, performance, and risk.
- Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with Engineering & Technology Group (ETG).
- Ability to obtain, or current possession of, a TS/SCI clearance.
Responsibilities
- Apply systems engineering, requirements, test, and validation practices to legacy RGS antenna upgrades and new antenna development.
- Integrate RGS across ground and system-level systems engineering and integration teams, representing it in the space-to-ground data relay chain.
- Review contractor deliverables and represent the Ground Segment in test definition, planning, and execution.
- Support new RGS acquisition efforts, including RGS-UK and RGS-S, through requirements development and integration planning.
- Advise Aerospace leadership and customers by identifying risks and opportunities and recommending mitigation strategies and corrective actions.
- Assess mission trades between space and ground segments and support system-level design reviews to ensure SV-to-Ground data relay performance.
- Build partnerships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG, and support teams across the missile warning enterprise.
- Travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required.
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 benefits 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
