Ground System Concept Engineer/Senior Ground System Concept Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities. 

The Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department (VGCD) in EED provides space vehicle and ground system preliminary/conceptual design; trade and architecture analysis, modeling, process development and leadership expertise; and tool development in support of conceptual design activities across the space enterprise. As a member of VGCD, you will be designing innovative spacecraft and ground segment solutions to meet the most pressing mission needs of our US Space Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, NOAA, and commercial/international customers.  

Work Model: This position will follow an in-person work model with a minimum of 4 days per week of onsite work required at Aerospace’s campus in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and participate in architecture, concept, and preliminary design studies of ground systems, engaging with multi-disciplinary engineering teams to support problem framing, gap analysis, trade space assessment, and concept exploration

• Work with technical experts across Aerospace to marshal expertise in multiple disciplines and domains, enabling concurrent engineering approaches that address complex problems

• Define system capabilities, system of systems interfaces, and requirements for space, ground, and intersegment system architectures to address user needs and perspectives

• Evaluate ground system design and architecture concepts and participate in design reviews

• Communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports

• Mentor early-career members of the department while developing tools and models that support ground system concept design and analysis activities

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Engineering Specialist:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field

• Typically, at least 6 years of engineering 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 effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within teams composed of members from organizations across Aerospace

• Exceptional time-management skills and the ability to balance multiple concurrent projects and schedule commitments

• Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%

• This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Senior Engineering Specialist include:

• Typically, at least 12 years of substantive experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains

• Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products

• Experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior-level management and technical design artifacts for engineering-level reviews

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with external partners from customer organizations, acquisition program offices, and contractors

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline

• Demonstrated experience in 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 strong professional networks

• Demonstrated experience with commercial cloud offerings

• Demonstrated experience with antenna, hardware etc. related to ground entry points

• Demonstrated experience with software, software process approaches (e.g., waterfall, 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 in the Systems Modeling Language (SysML), Unified Architecture Framework (UAF), or Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM)

• Proficiency in simulation tools/programming languages, including one or more of: MATLAB, Python, Simulink, STK, C++, SolidWorks

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max)

$117,300.00 - $226,900.00

Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change  
• Engage with Impact  
• Foster Innovation  
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

About Us

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.