Junior Aerospace Engineer

Overview

Junior Aerospace Engineer – SETA Support
Location: Los Angeles Air Force Base; in person/hybrid. No remote
Job Type: Full-Time

Clearance: Active Top Secret
Citizenship: U.S. Citizen
Travel: Occasional travel may be required (10%)
Salary Range: $110,000 + annually*

We are seeking a Junior Aerospace Engineer to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to Space Systems Command, Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SN), located at Los Angeles Air Force Base. The selected candidate will support the acquisition, development, integration, test, launch, operations, sustainment, and modernization of space-based missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence capabilities.

The engineer will provide enterprise-level systems engineering and integration support across space, ground, communications, and mission-support segments, including Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) GEO and Polar systems, FORGE, RGS, Resilient Missile Warning Track, and related OPIR sensor capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level aerospace systems engineering and technical advisory support across the full acquisition lifecycle.
• Support requirements development, decomposition, validation, verification, traceability, and configuration control.
• Conduct system-of-systems engineering and integration across space, ground, launch, communications, and operational mission segments.
• Support architecture development using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Digital Engineering, and mission-thread analysis.
• Evaluate technical baselines, interfaces, system performance, risks, dependencies, and readiness.
• Support program reviews, engineering review boards, configuration control boards, technical interchange meetings, IPTs, working groups, and milestone reviews.
• Analyze technical discrepancies, anomalies, deficiencies, and interface issues; develop corrective actions and closure documentation.
• Support launch integration, early orbit operations, on-orbit checkout, operational readiness, and transition to sustainment.
• Review and assess contractor engineering products, including Systems Engineering Plans, Interface Control Documents, specifications, verification plans, test reports, risk assessments, and CDRL deliverables.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedule inputs, critical-path analyses, risk registers, dependency/giver-receiver lists, and mitigation plans.
• Support mission area analysis for Missile Warning, Missile Defense, Battlespace Awareness, and Technical Intelligence.
• Assess the maturity and integration of ground processing, mission data, sensor fusion, command-and-control, and reporting capabilities.
• Support cybersecurity, system safety, mission assurance, resiliency, reliability, maintainability, and program protection activities.
• Coordinate with SSC organizations, mission partners, operational users, USSTRATCOM, the Intelligence Community, Missile Defense Agency, Space Delta 4, and other government and industry stakeholders.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, technical assessments, decision papers, status reports, and acquisition documentation.
• Identify technical, schedule, cost, and performance risks and recommend Courses of Action (COAs).
• Mentor junior engineers and support cross-functional engineering teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 7 years of relevant aerospace, space systems, defense acquisition, or systems engineering experience.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense or Space Force acquisition programs.
• Experience with space systems, missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, satellite systems, ground systems, or mission operations.
• Experience with requirements management, technical baseline management, systems integration, verification and validation, and risk management.
• Knowledge of the DoD acquisition lifecycle and applicable policies, processes, and standards.
• Strong technical writing, briefing, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with government, contractor, operational, and senior leadership stakeholders.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering or technical field.
• Experience supporting SSC, Missile Warning, OPIR, SBIRS, FORGE, or related programs.
• Familiarity with AFI 63-101/20-101, AFI 63-1201, DoDI 5000.02, MIL-STD-882E, NIST SP 800-160, and applicable space safety and acquisition guidance.
• Experience with MBSE, Digital Engineering, Agile development, DevSecOps, and model-based mission assurance.
• Experience with launch integration, on-orbit operations, ground segment integration, sensor fusion, or TCPED processes.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries
• Continuing education assistance
• Professional development
• Multiple healthcare benefits package options
• 401K with employer matching
• Competitive time off policy along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

Who We Are

At Astrion, we innovate, elevate, and shape the world of tomorrow. At our core is our purpose to “Be the Difference”. This means we encourage our employees to take action and be the driving force for positive change. We foster an environment where innovative solutions flourish, and our company continuously evolves.

We have a culture of care, empathy, and making a tangible difference within our organization and communities. We embrace continuous learning, growth, and innovation, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We promote collaboration and empowering our teams is at the core of our success.

Be the Difference

Astrion offers comprehensive services that boost preparedness, optimize performance, and ensure success across various domains, from Cyber to Digital, Mission and Systems, servicing our nation’s Civilian, Defense and Space communities. We support customers with Centers of Excellence in Washington DC, Huntsville, AL and Burlington, MA with an additional 36 locations across the U.S.

Join Astrion and Be the Difference in your career and the world!

Astrion is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.