Relay Ground Stations Systems Engineer

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 Material 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.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Relay Ground Stations (RGS) Systems Engineer with mission experience to work within an integrated program office of Air Force, Aerospace, SE&I, SETA, and contractors supporting Relay Ground Stations (RGS) within SSC’s Strategic Missile Warning (MW) Ground Infrastructure. The selected candidate will apply systems engineering and integration expertise to RGS efforts that relay Space Vehicle (SV) mission and state-of-health data to the Mission Control Station (MCS), supporting critical missile warning missions including Defense Support Program (DSP) and Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS)/Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Next Generation Geosynchronous (NGG) programs.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Play a pivotal role in mission assurance by applying systems engineering, requirements, test, and validation best practices across legacy antenna upgrades and groundbreaking new antenna development efforts for RGS
• Be a key integrator on ground and system-level SE&I Teams, representing RGS across the critical space-to-ground data relay chain
• Dive into contractor deliverables and represent the Ground Segment in test definition, planning, and execution for both legacy RGS upgrades and next-generation antenna development
• Help launch new RGS acquisition efforts (e.g., RGS-UK, RGS-S) from the ground up, through requirements development and integration planning
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Aerospace leadership and the customer, surfacing risks, opportunities, and sharp mitigation strategies and corrective actions
• Tackle complex mission trades between space and ground segments, ensuring seamless SV-to-Ground data relay performance at system-level design reviews
• Build strong, lasting partnerships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG, and support teams across the missile warning enterprise

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer – Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution or a related STEM field
• 8 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience working across government programs

• Proven experience in systems engineering, requirement development, and test/validation
• Skills in performing risk and schedule assessments
• Ability to lead and work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills both verbally and in writing
• Travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required
• This position requires an active Secret clearance, issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance

In addition to the above the Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer – Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering:

• 12 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience working across government programs
• Leadership experience in programs related to systems engineering, requirement development, and test/validation

• Experience leading and working effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel

How You Can Stand Out

Make your application shine with one or more of the following:

• Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or related field

• Direct experience in the Missile Warning / Tracking mission area, bonus for familiarity with DSP, SBIRS, or OPIR/NGG/NGP systems
• Hands on experience with ground antenna systems, including antenna upgrades, new antenna development, or RF ground infrastructure
• Demonstrated success in space/ground segment integration experience, particularly relaying SV mission and state-of-health data to ground control stations
• Understanding of ground system acquisition processes
• Experience working within software agile processes
• Ability to perform system-level optimization between cost, schedule, performance, and risk

• Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with Engineering & Technology Group (ETG)

• Ability to obtain, or current possession of, a TS/SCI clearance

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)

$131,400.00 - $240,500.00Pay 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.