Space Architecture Modeling & Simulation Specialist

Overview

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.

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-enabled mission effects.

The Surveillance and Navigation Architecture Performance Department (SNAPD) in the Integrated Performance Subdivision aspires to be the premier force advising the evolution of national security and civil space enterprises, leveraging our modeling and simulation (M&S) expertise to evaluate end-to-end architecture performance.

We are seeking a Space Architecture Performance Specialist that will lead the development and maintenance of sophisticated simulation tools in support of requirements verification, analyses‑of‑alternatives, and performance modeling for space‑based remote sensing architectures.

This is a full‑time position based in Chantilly, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, or El Segundo, CA, which requires 100% onsite work.

• Lead teams to perform assessments using in‑house or internally developed analysis tools that drive recommendations for research, development, and acquisition decisions of legacy and emerging customer space‑based sensing architectures.
• Partner across ETG to continue quality M&S standards in department capabilities and maintain awareness of software requirements and resources.
• Serve as a technical mentor to junior staff in one or more department focus areas, coordinating training and delivering a strategy for maintaining bench depth in department capabilities.
• Independently translate customer needs into project objectives and instructions for ETG analysts and developers, assemble and lead multi‑disciplinary technical teams, track team performance, and review team products for quality and accuracy.
• Work side‑by‑side with the Aerospace program office and interface with government leaders, contractors, other government agencies, other program offices, and the Aerospace Engineering and Technical Group (ETG) to address issues and provide the customer with the best available technical analyses and recommendations.
• Develop and present timely and technically accurate presentations and reports that clearly communicate analysis results to technical leads, management, and customers.
• Support development and sustainment of the organization’s analysis and simulation tools and capabilities.

• B.S degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, mathematics, or related discipline from an accredited school.
• 8 years of progressively technical modeling and simulation experience.
• Professional experience with one or more of the following subjects: space‑related modeling and simulation, geolocation, mission data processing, signal and image processing, space threats, resilient systems, algorithm design, software development, or mathematical modeling.
• Proficiency with one or more software languages that may include Python, C++, Fortran, or MATLAB.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

• 12 years of progressively more detailed modeling and simulation experience.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, personal accountability, and adaptability to changing customer expectations.
• Knowledge in one or more of these specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: signals intelligence, space surveillance, geo‑spatial intelligence, or…