Space Domain Awareness Technical Fellow

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.

Shape the Future of Space Security As orbital populations grow exponentially, the global space community needs visionary technical leaders to ensure all operators can see, understand, and act with situational awareness and decision advantage.

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, operating a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). We deliver innovative solutions spanning satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers. Join a team of problem solvers and innovators defining the future of space operations.

The Opportunity The Mission Operations Subdivision within the Enterprise Effects Division is creating a Technical Fellow position for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) , a rare opportunity to drive national strategy and technical innovation. You'll work directly with defense, civil, and commercial operators, and the intelligence community (IC) to architect sensor networks, data fusion systems, and space traffic management capabilities for an increasingly congested, contested, and competitive domain.

Why This Role Matters From Low Earth Orbit to cislunar space, operators face challenges from conjunction avoidance and debris mitigation to on-orbit servicing and potential threats. This Technical Fellow will :

Drive next-generation SDA system architectures spanning ground and space-based sensors (radar, optical, infrared, passive RF)
Pioneer AI/ML integration for automated tracking, anomaly detection, pattern-of-life analysis, and support to space battle management

Shape corporate investment in emerging SDA technologies with Aerospace's Office of the Chief Technology Officer Expand mission reach into cislunar and beyond GEO domain awareness

Mentor the next generation of SDA experts across sensors, data fusion, orbital mechanics, and object characterization

Bridge defense, intelligence, civil, commercial, and international communities to accelerate the delivery of solutions

Your Impact Partner with senior government, military, civil, allied, and commercial leaders on critical SDA challenges

Lead integrated architectures fusing multi-source data into actionable decision support

Advance space traffic management, collision avoidance, anomaly assessment, and space sustainability capabilities

Position Aerospace as the technical leader in SDADevelop technical talent across national security, civil, all ied, and commercial programs

Work Model Full-time position based in El Segundo, CA;
Colorado Springs, CO; or Chantilly, VA. This role includes four or more days per week on site to enable deep customer engagement and team collaboration.

What You'll Be Doing Strategic Leadership Partner with customers and operators to develop innovative SDA architectures addressing emerging challenges

Engage commercial SDA providers and civil agencies to align technical approaches and data standards

Position Aerospace as the premier SDA technical authority, pioneering cislunar and deep space awareness

Advise executives on technical investments and R&D priorities across defense, civil, and commercial applications

Technical Innovation Serve as technical authority on SDA systems, leading sensor architectures, data fusion systems, and command and control capabilities

Drive AI/ML applications transforming SDA operations from automated tracking to predictive orbit determination

Integrate SDA with space operations, intelligence , sustainability, and cyber

Advance frameworks for data sharing and collaboration across government, commercial, and international networks

Team Development Mentor staff in sensor phenomenology, data fusion, orbital mechanics, and object characterization

Advise on succession planning and workforce development for expanding SDA missions

Build multi-disciplinary teams spanning sensors, data processing, astrodynamics, and analytics

What You Need to be Successful (

Minimum Requirements )Bachelor's degree in STEM, Engineering, Physics, or related field
15+ years in SDA, space surveillance, traffic management, or space system architecture sExperience leading SDA sensor systems, data fusion architectures, and tracking solutions

Hands-on experience with government or commercial SDA systems (S pace S urveillance N etwork sensors, IC systems, or commercial platforms)
Track record leading R&D in sensors, algorithms, conjunction assessment, or traffic management

Ability to build and lead…