Cross-Mission Modeling and Simulation Specialist

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-enabled mission effects.

The Cross-Mission Effectiveness Department (CMED) in the Integrated Performance Subdivision leads integration and application of modeling and simulation capabilities and modern analysis workflows to support end-to-end effects chain analysis and space and space-enabled campaign modeling. As a member of CMED, you will provide technical capabilities to support our customers in modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) of space, air, and ground-based systems of systems to investigate architecture and concept of operations (CONOPS) performance in nominal and contested operating environments. MS&A focus areas include agent-based modeling, red vs blue simulations, military utility and capability drawdown, killchain effectiveness, enterprise architecture resiliency, and command and control (C2) evaluation. We support a variety of customers with diverse program portfolios, and we are looking for curious and innovative teammates to help us address our customers’ hardest problems! 

Work Model: 

This is a full-time, 100% onsite position located in either Chantilly, VA, El Segundo, CA, or Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Work closely with our program offices and customers to translate their program needs into modeling, simulation, and analysis tasks. 

• Work with management and teammates to develop and contribute to in-house, commercial-, and government-off-the-shelf engineering analysis tools and analysis products involving multi-phenomenology sensor data and modeling.

• Develop and present briefings and reports for customers. 

• Exercise your expertise in understanding, modeling, and analyzing enterprise-level architectures composed of multiple integrated missions.

• Mentor junior staff members on technical and professional development subjects and contribute to a learning environment where it is encouraged to share ideas and feedback. 

• Travel occasionally as required.  

What You Need to be Successful – Engineering Specialist - Signal & Image Processing and Modeling & Simulation Engineering

Minimum Requirements:  

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (aerospace, astronautical, mechanical, or software), computer science, physics, operations research, or closely related technical field from an accredited school. 

• 6 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments. 

• Technical understanding of astrodynamics. 

• Experience with multi-phenomenology remote sensing techniques, specifically EOIR, RADAR, and RF processing for object detection, tracking, and characterization.

• Familiarity with space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking/defense, communications infrastructure, command and control (C2), spacecraft maneuvers, threats to spacecraft, and space-driven kill-chains.  

• Advanced experience with Python and C++.  

• Demonstrated high level of creativity, initiative, and self-motivation.  

• Ability to work on dynamic assignments and adapt to changing customer expectations. 

• Collaboration skills for integrating across organizational boundaries and with multiple customers to drive impactful, end-to-end solutions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with effective oral and written communication skills. 

• Knowledge of Intelligence Community, U.S. Department of Defense, and Department of the Air Force business practices and programs. 

• Current Top Secret Clearance.   

How You Can Stand Out  

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

• An advanced degree in applicable STEM areas or other relevant disciplines. 

• Proficiency with space-based architecture resiliency concepts and applications.

• Proficiency with the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM).  

• Experience using distributed or cloud-based software, high-performance computing, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Ability to implement software development best practices for software development, integration, and testing.

• Current Top Secret/SCI Clearance with polygraph, and special programs access.  

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)

$129,000.00 - $193,500.00Pay 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.