Launch Operations and Integration 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 National Systems Group (NSG) serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.The NSG Launch Directorate provides direct technical support to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Office of Space Launch (OSL) in the areas of Launch Systems and Launch Site Engineering, Mission Integration, Mission Assurance, and specialized testing.  In this role as the Launch Operations and Integration Engineer (Senior Project Engineer - Systems and Mission Assurance Engineering), you will be part of an integrated government/contractor operations team and will perform technical verifications and mission assurance activities.  As an integral part of the team in a fast-paced environment you will provide engineering expertise for systems and facilities that provide essential capabilities to enable spacecraft launch base processing, including propellant and commodity systems, aerospace ground support equipment, and launch base systems and infrastructure.  You will apply sound systems engineering and deep technical rigor to provide the customer confident assessments that allow clear decision making to enable national security space systems to be successfully processed and launched.The is a full-time position working onsite at a customer facility at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL.What You’ll Be DoingProvide subject matter expertise to a government/contractor team focused on mission execution and mission success to include risk assessments, technical verifications, and readiness assessmentsDeliver sound technical evaluation to the Government Director of Engineering (DE) and Director of Operations (DO) on payload processing, and launch infrastructure and systems, primarily pertaining to the Eastern Processing Facility (EPF) and CCSFS launch complexes, often on aggressive and dynamic timelinesConduct deep dive technical support through robust Mission Assurance and Engineering application and lead Aerospace engineering matrix resources to apply specialized knowledge and capabilities to the customer’s most challenging problemsTrack mission requirements and provide assessments against the services’ capability baseline and evaluate Interface Control Documents (ICD) against mission requirementsEvaluate designs, concepts of operation, requirements, processes, procedures, corrective action reports, and non-recurring engineering effortsProvide recommended courses of action to remedy observed shortfalls or discrepancies in new or upgraded systems/processes as compared to established operating baselinesProvide systems engineering guidance, review, assessments, and recommendations as a member of integrated mission teams responsible for launch site space vehicle processing, spanning space vehicle transport through on-orbit deliverySupport program milestones and day of launch readiness activities and provide objective readiness assessments in support of formal readiness certificationConducting day of launch on-console assessments of real-time technical dataEvaluate non-intelligence community (IC) satellites processing through the EPF for potential risks to OSL infrastructure and impacts to other satellites that may be concurrently processingAssist in the development, testing, and operations of launch base products, processes and/or systemsSupport OSL Chief Engineer’s Office from a Cape launch perspective; New entrant status, risk assessments, documentation review, and operations supportWhat You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements for Senior Project Engineer- Systems and Mission Assurance Engineering:A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or systems engineering or a related technical field from a recognized institution.A minimum of 10 years of relevant systems engineering experience with progressively increasing responsibilitiesExperience with one or more of the following: spacecraft launch site processing, launch vehicle processing, launch site infrastructure systems, data acquisition systems, ground support equipment engineering design and analysis, spacecraft integration and testingProactive approach to problem solving, ability to work with autonomyDemonstrated use of systems engineering principles, concepts and practicesAbility to successfully team and communicate with a broad range of customers, colleagues, contractors, and senior government leadershipSolid understanding and experience with spacecraft processing systems including air & road transport, mechanical ground support equipment, radio frequency detection/protection, and/or environmental monitoring systemsWillingness to travel occasionally (approximately 10%)This position requires a current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.How You Can Stand OutIt would be impressive if you have one or more of these:Advanced degree from an accredited program in aerospace, mechanical or related STEM disciplineExperience in launch site satellite vehicle processing, propellant systems, integration, testing, and countdown operationsAbility to apply systems engineering and technical analysis principles, theories, and methods to assess satell