Space Vehicle Concept Design Engineer/Senior Space Vehicle Concept Design Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation’s Enterprise Effects Division integrates strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, supporting work from concept and architecture design through performance assessment and application of space and space-enabled capabilities. The Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department provides preliminary and conceptual design for space vehicles and ground systems, along with trade and architecture analysis, modeling, process development, and tool development. Department members design spacecraft and ground-segment solutions for customers including the U.S. Space Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, NOAA, and commercial and international organizations. The Space Vehicle Concept Design Engineer leads and participates in early life-cycle spacecraft concept design studies, ranging from individual projects to large multidisciplinary efforts. The role develops and improves tools and models for spacecraft concept design and analysis, supports ground-segment concept assessment capabilities, and brings together expertise across disciplines to address complex problems through concurrent engineering. It also defines system capabilities, interfaces, and requirements for space, ground, and intersegment architectures; communicates findings and recommendations; 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 campus in El Segundo, California, or Chantilly, Virginia. Domestic and international travel of approximately 5–10% is expected. The position requires an active U.S. government Top Secret/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance. The posting covers Engineering Specialist and Senior Engineering Specialist levels, with higher experience and leadership expectations for the senior level.
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 spacecraft system development, spacecraft subsystem design, ground or 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 ability to collaborate effectively in teams composed of members from organizations across Aerospace.
- Exceptional time-management skills and ability to balance multiple concurrent projects and schedule commitments.
- Available and willing 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.
- Senior-level applicants: demonstrated success leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products.
- Senior-level applicants: experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior-level management, as well as technical design artifacts for engineering-level reviews.
- Senior-level applicants: demonstrated ability to collaborate with external partners from customer organizations, acquisition program offices, and contractors.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in engineering, mathematics, science, or a related technical discipline.
- Demonstrated experience with concurrent engineering tools, processes, and methodologies.
- Experience working closely with key Aerospace customer agencies from the Department of War and the Intelligence Community, including strong domain knowledge and professional networks.
- Demonstrated experience with artificial intelligence applications and emerging commercial capability offerings for space systems.
- 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 early life-cycle spacecraft concept design studies, from small individual projects to large multidisciplinary efforts.
- Lead the continuous development, maintenance, and improvement of tools and models used for spacecraft concept design and analysis.
- Support development of capabilities within the department for assessing ground-segment concept designs.
- Coordinate technical expertise across Aerospace disciplines and domains to enable 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.
- Communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports.
- Mentor early-career department members while developing concepting tools and carrying out spacecraft concept design and analysis.
- For the senior-level role, organize and lead cross-functional, cross-organizational teams executing studies and assessments and producing quality deliverables.
- For the senior-level role, develop and present strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior management, and technical design artifacts for engineering reviews.
- For the senior-level role, 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 benefits of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; immediate eligibility and vesting 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
Senior
