Mission Payload Unit 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.

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.

Job Summary

The National Systems Group 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.

Imagery Programs Division’s (IPD) Reconnaissance Systems (RS) Office is looking for an engineer with electrical engineering and space hardware development, manufacturing, and test experience to be the Mission Payload Unit Engineer (Senior Project Engineer) in a next generation RF major system acquisition. The Mission Payload Unit Engineer will guide a team of technical SMEs in support of unit development, integration, and testing, manage independent test and analysis projects to support anomaly resolution, ensure requirements are thoroughly verified and sold-off, support unit delivery to the prime contractor for integration, address unit-related issues in spacecraft system-level testing, and coordinate across interfaces to ensure mission success. This is a dynamic and exciting time in the development cycle, and the Mission Payload Unit Engineer will have the opportunity to shape the future of a critical space program.

Work Model :

This position requires 100% in-person work in Chantilly, VA

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing technical oversight on a cutting-edge RF payload, to include aperture development, manufacturing, test, verification, integration with the spacecraft, and on-orbit test
• Coordinate a diverse team of technical SMEs through module and unit-level test; assembling major technical issue response teams and providing recommendations in support of root cause and corrective action efforts for unit testing, and subsequently for unit-related anomalies in spacecraft I&T testing and on-orbit testing
• Managing responsive, independent laboratory testing, non-destructive imaging, RF range testing, analysis, and modeling and simulation to resolve difficult contractor technical issues, often ones that drive the critical path for the program
• Supporting mission payload unit requirements verification review, sell-off, and trades
• Providing on-site Aerospace support to the government customer and collaborating with the customer, SETA contractors, and development contractors to meet mission needs

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements :

How You Can Stand Out

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

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 :

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 :

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.