Technical Comm & Nav Systems 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.
Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.
Human Exploration and Spaceflight (HESF) Division in CSG is the company subject matter experts for human spaceflight. HESF supports NASA and its bold human exploration missions from the NASA Headquarters mission directorates to the Moon to Mars office down to every Artemis Program in operation. We also support the International Space Station (ISS), Commercial LEO Development Program, Commercial Crew Program, and Human Health and Performance. HESF support spans the systems engineering and integration lifecycle for programs from architecture and mission design to technology development, requirements and design reviews, and finally to verification, safety, and on orbit operational reviews and concurrences.
Aerospace seeks a motivated early-career engineer to join our NASA Goddard team supporting space communications, mission operations, and ground system integration. As a Technical Communications and Navigation Systems Engineer (Member of Technical Staff/Senior Member of Technical Staff - Systems Engineering), you will work under the mentorship of senior engineers on projects involving RF and optical communications, ground segment integration, and telemetry, tracking, command, and ranging (TTCR) systems across various orbital domains including LEO, MEO, GEO, and CisLunar.
This position offers a unique opportunity to apply your academic background, build technical skills, and grow into a subject matter expert supporting NASA's most ambitious exploration goals.
Work Model
This is a full-time 100% onsite position located at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, MD.
What You'll Be Doing
You will work in collaboration with senior engineers and project leads to:

• Apply standard engineering tools to design and analyze RF (S-, X-, Ku-, Ka-band) and optical (lasercom) communications links.
• Support development and analysis of data downlink architectures, including integration of ground processing systems.
• Assist in integrating and validating TTCR systems, including link budget estimation, ranging, Doppler compensation, and synchronization assessments.
• Participate in the review of satellite command and control operations, including operational concepts (CONOPS) and procedures.
• Contribute to ground station integration efforts, including antennas, modems, and RF/optical subsystems.
• Help develop system interface documents and performance requirements for comm/nav subsystems.
• Evaluate and document findings on emerging technologies such as optical terminals, autonomous ground systems, and advanced waveforms.
• Collaborate with internal teams and NASA stakeholders to troubleshoot and analyze performance issues.

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for Member of Technical Staff - Systems Engineering

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a related STEM field
• At least 1 year of professional experience in systems engineering, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, or related technical fields
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment under technical guidance
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a government security clearance
• Willingness to travel occasionally (approx. 10-20%) as required

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff - Systems Engineering include:

• 3 or more years of professional experience in systems engineering, telecommunications, aerospace engineering, or related technical fields
• Internship or project experience in satellite communications, RF/optical link design, or mission operations
• Experience working across diverse teams and different engineering disciplines
• Ability to effectively utilize oral and written communication to express concepts and recommendations to personnel at all technical and managerial levels
• Ability to work effectively and quickly in real-time environments of rapid change, conflicting requirements, and occasional pressure

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Exposure to NASA programs or experience working in a space systems environment
• Familiarity with TTCR systems or ground segment engineering concepts
• Interest in growing technical depth and taking on increasing responsibility over time

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll 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)
$98,000 - $140,000
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 - 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 other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you're an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.