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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The Control Analysis Department performs satellite and payload attitude control system analysis support for a wide variety of space programs ranging from CubeSats weighing a few kilograms with prototype payloads to the GPS constellation which countless users rely on every day.  In today’s rapidly changing space environment, the department leverages both heritage and state of the art knowledge, tools, and techniques in the areas of space vehicle attitude control, dynamics, and estimation, while also researching and applying methods from emerging and related topics such as artificial intelligence and robotics, to solve new and increasingly challenging problems. The qualified candidate will work closely with internal and external stakeholders supporting all phases of a program lifecycle: conceptual studies, prototyping, source selection, development, and operations. 

Work Model:

Hybrid: This position will be a hybrid work model and offer partially remote with some onsite work required in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Participating in architecting, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems on a variety of National Security Space programs 

• Performing tasks that may include concept development, trade studies, source selections, requirements analyses, risk assessments, design analyses, simulation development, prototyping, test planning and execution, operations support, and anomaly resolution 

• Building and maintaining relationships with internal & external stakeholders, customers and contractors providing updates in technical design reviews and analysis in interchange meetings 

• Researching and developing new analysis tools and techniques. 

• Performing control design, implementation, assessment, and/or testing for civil and commercial customers 

• Communicating technical results both orally and in writing. Interact directly with government customers, program management, and contractors 

• Engaging with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in continuous learning to drive the state-of-the-art technical analysis 

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Prior Aerospace Internship

• Advanced Degree (Master's degree or PhD, completed or pursuing with conferral in 2022) from an accredited program in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related discipline  

• 0 – 1 year of related full-time industry experience 

• Graduate level course work and/or in-depth, hands-on experience in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or advanced dynamics

• Working knowledge of MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or related language 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 

• Must be able to work well both independently and in a team 

• Must possess strong organizational, time management, and project management skills 

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. 

How You Can Stand Out

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

• 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale 

• Working knowledge of C/C++, Python, Git, Docker, Linux, ROS, and/or Gazebo 
   

• Experience with one or more of the following: 
  - Spacecraft attitude determination and control  
  - Payload pointing estimation and control  
  - Advanced control techniques and applications   
  - Kalman filtering and stochastic processes  
  - Modeling and simulation of control systems  
  - Multibody and flexible body dynamics  
  - Implementation, testing, deploying, and calibration of control systems 
  - Cubesat or smallsat attitude determination and control design and operations  
  - Mobile robotics, guidance algorithms, computer vision, image processing, point-cloud analysis 
  - Experience with simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), unscented Kalman filters (UKFs), particle filters 
  - Data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, optimization 

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)

$86,600 - $129,800

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 diverse 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/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 [email protected]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.