RPO Operations Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking an Operations Engineer to join the Tactics and Operations Section of its RPO Analysis and Integration Department (RAID), part of the Enterprise Effects Division. RAID delivers mission-level rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) analysis, design, and system development for military and civil customers. The selected candidate will provide expertise in customer flight-mechanics needs, specializing in on-orbit operational practices, processes, and procedures that support analysis, research, development, and operational requests. The role involves developing deep technical solutions and collaborating with engineering partners to address challenging customer problems across defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial organizations. This full-time position is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or Chantilly, Virginia. It uses an in-person work model with four or more regular onsite workdays per week and remote flexibility as business needs allow. Occasional travel is required to support customer efforts. The position is offered at either the Senior Member of Technical Staff or Engineering Specialist level. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required. Transcripts are required for the Senior Member of Technical Staff position.
Requirements
- For the Senior Member of Technical Staff level: a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related field; the degree may be in progress or have been conferred within the last 12 months.
- For the Senior Member of Technical Staff level: at least 5 years of professional technical work experience.
- For the Senior Member of Technical Staff level: experience with spacecraft operations, on-orbit testing, and anomaly resolution.
- For the Senior Member of Technical Staff level: experience in one or more of space mission analysis and design, state estimation, pose estimation, orbit determination, image processing, algorithm design, software development, astrodynamics, trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft conducting RPO, or mathematical modeling.
- For the Senior Member of Technical Staff level: proficiency with one or more of C, C++, Python, Fortran, or MATLAB.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Willingness to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities, approximately 10%.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: at least 8 years of professional technical work experience.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: demonstrated technical excellence in relevant job capabilities and functions.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: ability to operate independently, often amid ambiguity, and deliver high-quality, relevant work products to a range of customers.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: graduate-level coursework, research, and/or experience in space mission analysis and design, state estimation, pose estimation, relative navigation, orbit determination, computer vision, image processing, astrodynamics, or trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft conducting RPO.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: experience using or building analysis software that combines numerical methods, orbital or flight mechanics, and optimization approaches for spacecraft or related vehicles.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: advanced algorithm development skills, including parallel processing and scripting experience.
- For the Engineering Specialist level: experience with contested space trajectory applications, military exercises, and wargaming events.
- Transcripts are required for the Senior Member of Technical Staff position.
Responsibilities
- Provide space operations support and expertise for US Space Force, US Space Command, and Intelligence Community missions.
- Explore tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and incorporate complex operational constraints into the design and maturation of space systems supporting RPO objectives.
- Evaluate contested space mission applications to assess system vulnerabilities and contribute to developing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS).
- Build tools and maintain a healthy, modern internal tool base supporting customer deliverables.
- Combine AI/ML/RL techniques with flight-mechanics modeling to assess complex analysis and decision-making trade spaces.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate customer mission requirements into technical solutions and analysis products.
- Travel occasionally to support customer efforts.
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.
- An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
