Sr Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Project Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•Colorado Springs, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Battle Management, Command & Control (BMC2) Division seeks a Sr Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Project Engineer to support acquisition and sustainment activities across the SDA enterprise, including ground-based SDA sensors and mission-processing systems. The role focuses on sustaining and modernizing sensors and software programs within the Second Sustainment Squadron of Mission Delta 2. The selected candidate will work full-time, on-site at the company’s facility in El Segundo, California, or Colorado Springs, Colorado. The engineer provides SDA system architecture expertise to customers and engineering teams, performs hands-on technical work involving SDA sensors and mission-processing/platform systems, and collaborates with Aerospace, government, contractor, and outside-organization teams. The role helps ensure portfolio systems meet Mission Delta needs, advances proposed capabilities, prioritizes contractor work against customer needs, and guides decisions based on technical merit. It also involves reconciling competing requirements, balancing systems engineering with agile development, and developing strategies that meet mission needs within cost and schedule constraints. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent, at least 12 years of relevant technical experience, and some experience related to SDA optical or RF sensors and/or software processing systems. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a TS/SCI government clearance are required. Occasional travel to a work location or customer site is expected, approximately 10–20%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent.
12 or more years of experience in a relevant technical field, including some experience related to SDA optical or RF sensors and/or software processing systems.
Proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks effectively.
Working understanding of SDA architecture and key requirements and interfaces.
Experience dealing with organizational ambiguity.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Experience working through complex engineering challenges involving technical and political contributions.
Substantive experience with DoD acquisition lifecycle and processes.
Willingness to travel occasionally to a work location or customer site, approximately 10–20%.
Ability to obtain a TS/SCI government clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
Ability to work full-time on-site at the company facility in El Segundo, California, or Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a STEM field.
Experience operating effectively in complex working environments.
Experience working directly with contractors to implement and test complex designs.
Experience with agile development programs and test strategies that support that construct.
Familiarity with military space systems and operational concepts.
Experience defining and implementing a strategic technical vision.
Hands-on experience with SDA sensors or associated C2 and data platforms.
Hands-on experience with cloud software deployments.
Current/active TS/SCI security clearance.
Ability to obtain necessary SAP-level clearances.

Responsibilities

Provide SDA system architecture expertise to customers and engineering teams prioritizing requirements, updating systems, and bringing new systems online.
Collaborate with outside organizations to provide technical support.
Perform hands-on technical work involving SDA sensors and SDA mission-processing/platform systems.
Influence government and contractor stakeholders to advance proposed capabilities.
Work with Aerospace, government, and contractor engineering teams located in different places, particularly Colorado Springs, Colorado, and El Segundo, California.
Ensure systems in the portfolio have adequate performance and capabilities to meet Mission Delta needs.
Propose development of new capabilities to address critical gaps.
Work directly with contractors to ensure their work is prioritized in line with pressing customer needs.
Drive decisions based on unbiased technical merit.
Manage and reconcile conflicting requirements.
Balance systems engineering with agile development practices.
Develop strategies to meet mission needs within cost and schedule constraints.

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 a company-paid benefit 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.