Communications Engineer, Engineering Specialist / Sr. Engineering 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.

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 Communication Technologies and Engineering Division (CTED) represents the disciplines of communications, networking, and PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing) in support of space missions, along with their enabling technologies.

In our domain, CTED projects comprise all aspects, from architectures to prototypes to implementation, theoretical to hands-on.

Our engineers work directly with corporate and U.S. Government customers to ensure robust and resilient communications.

In this role as a Communications Engineer ( Engineering Specialist or Senior Engineering Specialist ), you will work on-site with our Aerospace program office team, our customer and their SETA contractors to achieve the goal of engineering highly advanced space communication solutions which expand upon existing legacy capabilities.

These include enabling higher capacity, communications security, network architecting and evolving space cyber security methods and techniques.

Your responsibilities will be focused on supporting our government customer’s mission to develop transformational space communication and networking architectures and solutions that support interoperability with existing and planned systems based on robust system engineering analyses.

Work Model : This position requires 100% on site work in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Analyze and develop robust communication payloads, techniques, waveforms, and architectures in different physical domains
• Manage a portfolio focused on improving communications and cyber capabilities and recommend future R&D efforts
• Provide subject matter expertise in communication systems hardware and software, systems engineering and mission assurance
• Coordinate with customer and contracting teams to evaluate contractor progress on existing programs, to develop new R&D programs, and to ensure any research proposal evaluations are completed in a timely manner
• Coordinate research and development programs across Aerospace and government organizations.
• Engage diverse matrixed technical personnel to support multiple projects

What You Need to be Successful Engineering Specialist

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or related applicable technical discipline
• Eight or more years of increasing responsible related engineering experience
• Experience in communication systems hardware and software, RF systems, microelectronics, system engineering, unit level requirements, system development, or related field.
• Ability to understand interfaces between payload and networking systems and requirements.
• Experience working across multiple projects or programs, and / or tasking matrixed technical personnel; ability to close projects and programs.
• Local travel to off-site meetings and occasional CONUS air travel may be expected.
• This position requires a current and active TS / SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the US government.

U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Engineering Specialist :

• Twelve or more years of related experience in satellite communications systems engineering
• A demonstrated ability to define and initiate projects, lead technical teams, successfully perform technical studies and interface with multiple stakeholders

How You Can Stand Out

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

• An understanding of government acquisition processes and practices used in DoD and IC acquisitions
• Prior program office experience or ability to work in a highly dynamic Program Office environment with a mix of government, FFRDC, and SETA personnel
• Ability to grasp and learn innovative and cutting-edge technologies and technological concepts (e.g. space networking, cyber)
• An advanced degree in engineering, computer science or related applicable technical discipline
• Strong personal initiative, enthusiastic self-starter; excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

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.