Payload & Mission Engineer - SDA Tracking Architecture

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers' portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) was established in 2019 by the Department of Defense to define and monitor the Department's future threat-driven space architecture and accelerate the development and fielding of new military space capabilities necessary to ensure our technological and military advantage in space for national defense. Aerospace support to SDA resides within the Agile Acquisition Division of the Defense Architectures and Integration office of the Defense Systems Group, which provides decision support at the enterprise level to senior Aerospace customers across the Department of War, as well as helping to connect and align customers and Aerospace across the space enterprise. This position supports SDA's Tracking Cell, in which the selected candidate will provide expertise in Missile Warning (MW), Missile Tracking (MT), and Missile Defense (MD) mission architecture definition, performance modeling and evaluation, acquisition oversight, operations planning, and external stakeholder enterprise mission integration.

The selected candidate will work full-time, on-site at any of the following locations: Chantilly, VA, El Segundo, CA, Huntsville, AL, Colorado Springs, CO, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, Hill AFB, UT, or Albuquerque, NM.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead cutting-edge mission architecture development for DoD's most advanced space-based missile warning and tracking systems, directly impacting national security and warfighter effectiveness. Support the SDA Tracking Cell Director and Tracking Tranche Program Managers in delivering Warfighter capabilities that fill critical capability gaps.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to SDA senior leadership, influencing multi-billion-dollar space architecture investment decisions. Provide Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense (MWTD) technical leadership across all tranches, including architectural modeling, requirements definition, acquisition support, enterprise stakeholder coordination, partner system integration, and ensuring SDA Tracking space and ground efforts fulfill warfighter requirements.
• Drive innovation in proliferated LEO constellation design at the intersection of space systems engineering, missile defense operations, and emerging technologies. As Tracking is the primary sensing mission for SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), you will engage daily with SDA senior leaders, FFRDCs, SETAs, UARC personnel, DoD stakeholders, and industry partners to accelerate and enhance missile defense capabilities.
• Provide mission systems engineering expertise to guide contract execution, performance assessments and trades, on-orbit operations planning, PWSA space and ground system integration, technology roadmap development, and future tranche requirement definition.
• Direct high-performing technical teams from Aerospace's Engineering Technology Group, guiding Tracking modeling, simulation, and analysis efforts that validate operational performance and inform billion-dollar acquisition decisions. Monitor contractor execution, provide direct systems engineering and SME support, and oversee analysis of operational capabilities for missile defense scenarios.
• Apply innovative approaches throughout the full mission lifecycle—from requirements definition and contractor oversight to on-orbit testing and operational integration—bridging the gap between Tracking acquisition and operations while ensuring enterprise and warfighter integration.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements - Senior Project Engineer - Signal & Image Processing and Modeling & Simulation Engineering:

• Bachelor’s or Advanced degree from an accredited program in engineering, math, computer science, physics, or other related discipline
• 12+ years of progressive engineering experience in space systems, with demonstrated growth in technical leadership and program influence
• Relevant, progressive experience in Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense (MWTD) space vehicle development, test, and/or space-to-ground system integration
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional high-performance teams in fast-paced environments, working effectively across the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group matrix and other program offices
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes through data-driven analysis while building and maintaining substantive rapport with Aerospace peers and government customers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, organizing complex technical concepts clearly and building consensus through persuasive, polished professional communication
• Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10% of the time
• Current and active TS/SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. US 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:

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in engineering, math, computer science, physics, or related discipline
• 12+ years of specialized experience in MWTD systems, architectures, operations, data processing, and performance assessment
• Experience with missile defense sensors and space-based tracking systems, such as space-based infrared systems (SBIRS/OPIR/API), or familiarity with related EO/IR sensor phenomenology, tracking algorithms, or mission analysis tools
• Background in signal processing, data fusion techniques, or modeling and simulation tools (e.g., STK, EADSIM, AFSIM, or similar)
• Experience with space architecture concepts such as proliferated LEO constellations, inter-satellite links, mesh networks, or JADC2 integration, and/or familiarity with MDA/BMDS architectures
• Exposure to or experience with rapid acquisition approaches, including agile frameworks, MTA authorities, OTA contracting, or programs like SpRCO, DIU, or similar organizations
• Leadership and customer engagement, including mentoring engineers and delivering comprehensive assessment products to senior stakeholders
• Multidisciplinary space enterprise knowledge spanning DoD, IC, Civil, and Commercial missions, technologies, and operations, with direct SDA experience and familiarity with SDA Tracking architecture, functional cells, and leadership interactions highly valued

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)

$166,400.00 - $249,600.00

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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.