Job at a glance
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. System Architect – Senior Member of Technical Staff The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a wide-ranging and 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. The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon) provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Space Security (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others.
ArCon staff participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains. ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions.
Work Model: This position will follow an in-person work model with a minimum of 4 days per week of onsite work required in either Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA. What You’ll Be Doing Work as a key contributor and leader in one of ArCon’s flagship capabilities, the Concept Design Center (CDC) System Architecture Team (SAT), a concurrent engineering design team responsible for performing mission concept design, analysis of alternatives, and architecture-level trade studies for various government agencies.
Apply and develop disciplined system architecting methods, processes, and tools in a broad range of architecture-level assessment, modeling, analysis, and conceptual design activities Apply and develop innovative methods, processes, and tools to architect and implement model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering (DE) capabilities Use, develop, and integrate analytical methods and tools to evaluate architectural concepts and system conceptual designs for cost, schedule, performance, risk, and resilience to disruptive events or threats, and other characteristics Inform system architecting and acquisition decisions with expertise in relevant systems, technologies, threats, policy, and the industrial base in the space and/or nuclear weapons domains Collaborate with other Aerospace personnel to marshal technical expertise in multiple technical disciplines and domains to enable concurrent engineering approaches to address complex problems Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; build cross disciplinary teams; scope, plan, and execute the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports.
What You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff : PhD in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, science, or related technical field (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) 0-1 year of industry experience Prior internship with The Aerospace Corporation Experience in system or enterprise a