The Aerospace Corporation

GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst

The Aerospace Corporation$86K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
  • Experience in control system design, estimation theory, or dynamics.
  • Minimum one year in developing control and dynamics simulations.
  • Proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
  • Working knowledge of C/C++.
  • Must be eligible for U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Participate in design and analysis of spacecraft and payload control systems.
  • Support concept development, trade studies, and requirements analyses.
  • Communicate technical results to stakeholders verbally and in writing.
  • Research and develop new analysis tools and techniques.
  • Engage in continuous learning with subject matter experts.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
  • Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
  • Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
  • 401(k) Plan with company-paid benefit based on service length.
  • Flexible spending accounts.
  • Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
  • Relocation assistance.
  • Professional growth and development programs.
  • Education assistance programs.
  • Inclusive work environment built on teamwork and respect.
Full Job Description

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the intersection of space vehicle concepts and the enterprise data behind both current and future systems. From this position, VSD delivers innovative, cross-cutting research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; both concept- and tailored-design analysis; assembly, integration, and test support; and operational/mission support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical, aerospace, computer science, and electrical 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.

Within this division, the ControlAnalysis Department (CAD)focuses on providingsatellite attitude and payload pointing estimation and control system analysisfor a wide variety ofspaceprograms/systems ranging from DoD and NRO to commercial. Applications may include small pathfinding CubeSats with prototype payloads (weighing a few kilograms total), all the way up to the more exquisite GPS constellation upon which countless users rely every day. In response to the rapidly evolving space environment of today, CAD leveragesstate-of-the-arttools, techniques, and knowledge to outpace the threat of tomorrow. As part of the Aerospace Corporation FFRDC, however, CAD is also better able to ensure such agile approaches are well-anchored in heritage proficiencies of space vehicle attitudecontrol,dynamics,and estimation and payload pointing. From this fundamental foundation,this department engages in cutting-edge research and applies modern methods to emerging andrelatedtopicssuch as artificial intelligence, computer vision,androboticsto solvenew and increasingly challenging problems.

As a Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Member of Technical Staff/Senior Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineering), you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders supporting technical oversight analysis of all phases of a program lifecycle: conceptual studies, prototyping, source selection, development, and operations.

This position is in El Segundo, requiring at least 4 days onsite.

What You9ll Be Doing

  • Participate in design, simulation, analysis, and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems on a variety of National Security Space programs, civil programs, and commercial programs
  • Perform tasks in support of concept development, trade studies, source selections, requirements analyses, risk assessments, design analyses, simulation development, prototyping, test planning andexecution, operationssupport, and anomaly resolution
  • Communicate technical results both orally and in writing, interacting directly with government customers, program management, and contractors
  • Research, develop, and document new analysis tools and techniques
  • Engage with subject matter experts in continuous learning to drive thestate-of-the-arttechnical analysis

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for a Member of Technical Staff:

  • Master9s degreefrom an accredited college/university programin Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • Graduate level coursework and/or in-depth, hands-on experience in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or dynamics
  • One or more years of experience with developing control and dynamics simulations
  • Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink
  • Working knowledge with C/C++
  • 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.

In addition to the requirements above, the minimum requirements for a Senior Member of Technical Staff are:

  • 5 years of related technical experience
  • Proficiency, through PhD research or technical experience, in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis, estimation theory, or multibody dynamics

How You Can Stand Out

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

  • PhD degreefrom an accredited college/university programin Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • Proficiency with software development: version control (Git), containerization (Docker), cross-platform compatibility (Linux, Windows, Mac), ROS / Gazebo, and distributed computing
  • Experience with special topics including, but not limited to:
    • Rendezvous, proximity, operations, and docking (RPOD) scenarios
    • Computer vision algorithms, image processing, point-cloud analysis
    • Mobile robotics, guidance algorithms, trajectory optimization
    • Simultaneous localization & mapping (SLAM), unscented Kalman filters (UKFs), particle filters, factor graphs
    • Datascience,artificial intelligence,machinelearning, reinforcement learning
  • Proficiency with one or more of the following:
    • Payload pointing estimation and control
    • Spacecraft attitude determination and control
    • Kalman filtering and stochastic processes
    • Advanced control techniques and applications
    • Modeling and simulation of control systems
    • Multibody and flexible body dynamics
    • Implementation, testing, deploying, and calibration of control systems
  • Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance

We offer a competitive compensation package where you9ll 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)

$86,600.00 - $150,400.00

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 6 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 6the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

About The Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is a nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) headquartered in El Segundo, California. The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military, civil, and commercial customers. Aerospace also designs and develops spacecraft, sensors, and other systems in support of national security, civil, and commercial customers. The corporation has more than 4,000 employees and operates a number of laboratories and test facilities across the United States.
Learn more about The Aerospace Corporation
Size
4,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1960

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