The Aerospace Corporation

Mission Planning and Optimization Engineer 

The Aerospace Corporation$129K — $193K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field from an accredited program.
  • Eight or more years of relevant industry experience.
  • Expertise in space mission analysis, astrodynamics, algorithm design, and multi-objective optimization.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, Python, Fortran, MATLAB, or JavaScript.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a technical representative, building relationships with defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial organizations.
  • Perform and lead complex optimization analysis for traveling salesman and facility location problems using advanced algorithms.
  • Design and optimize spacecraft maneuvers for cislunar and Earth-orbit missions.
  • Evaluate mission applications to assess system vulnerabilities and develop resilient operational strategies.
  • Develop innovative flight dynamics tools to address customer needs and enhance analytical capabilities.
  • Mentor junior staff and promote knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary teams.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
  • Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
  • Flexible work schedules, including telework options
  • 401(k) plan with generous company contributions and immediate vesting
  • Professional development programs and education assistance
  • Relocation assistance available
  • An inclusive work environment that values teamwork and diversity.
Full Job Description

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The divisionleveragesa broad array of engineering disciplines against a wide-rangingand 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 and space-enabled capabilities. 

As a corecomponentof EED, the Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics (EMFD) Department provides flight mechanicsexpertisefor the cislunar domain, multi-objective2traveling salesman2 trajectory sequence generation, facility location optimization, and trans-atmospheric flight design for missiles,hyperglidevehicles, and reentry vehicles. We are looking for anEngineering Specialistto serve as a technical expert and local point of contact for our customer organizations. The selected candidate will tackle complex optimization and mission planning challenges, requiringexpertisein areas such astrajectory optimization, tree search algorithms, combinatorial optimization, orbital mechanics/astrodynamics, and decision-making under uncertainty. This role combines technical depth withstrong communicationabilities to influence stakeholders and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams. As the department's local technical representative,youlllead analysis efforts, mentor junior staff, and helpidentifynew opportunities for our most challenging customer problems. 

Work Model

  • This is afull-timeposition based inEl Segundo, CA, which requires100% onsitework.

WhatYoullBe Doing

  • Serve asatechnical representative, building strategic relationships with program officesanddelivering specialized analysis fordefense, intelligence, civil and commercial organizations.

  • Perform and leadcomplex optimization analysis for time-dependent Traveling Salesman and Facility Location Problems using tree search algorithms andmulti-objectiveoptimization techniques.

  • Design andoptimizespacecraft maneuvers for orbit transfer, station keeping, disposal, and reentry events across cislunar and Earth-orbit missions.

  • Evaluate contested spacemission applicationsto assess system vulnerabilities and develop resilient Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).

  • Develop innovative flight dynamics tools and algorithms that expand the department's analytical capabilities and directly address emerging customer needs.

  • Mentor junior staff and foster knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary teams to strengthen the department's technicalexpertise.

What You Need to be Successful

MinimumRequirementsforEngineering Specialist 6 Flight Mechanics:

  • BSdegreefroman accredited college/university programin engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field

  • Eightor moreyears ofrelated industry/work experience

  • Experience in one or more of the following subjects: space mission analysis and design, advanced astrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, mathematical modeling, multi-objectiveoptimization,decision making under uncertainty,trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft, missiles, and reentry vehicles

  • Proficiencywith one or more of the following programming languages/tools: C, C++, Python, Fortran, MATLAB, JavaScript

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills

  • The ability tooperateindependently, often in the presence of ambiguity, and still deliver high-quality,innovative,andspecializedend products to a range of customers

  • Willing to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities (approx. 10%)

  • This position requires ability to obtain andmaintaina security clearance, which is issued by the U.S.government. U.S.citizenship isrequiredto obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

  • MS or PhDdegreefroman accredited college/university programin engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field

  • Graduatelevelcourse work,researchand/or experience in the following areas:multi-objective optimization, decision making under uncertainty, astrodynamics

  • Experience with contested space trajectory applications

  • Experience leading customer engagements,identifyingnew work opportunities, or serving as a technical point of contactfor government programs or sponsors

We offer a competitive compensation package where youll 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 - $193,500.00

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 other1the 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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