Space Domain Awareness and Mission Analyst

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.

Join the Enterprise Effects Division (EED) at The Aerospace Corporation, where we tackle some of the nation's most critical space challenges. Our division integrates strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, working on everything from concept design to performance assessment of space and space-enabled systems. 

We're seeking exceptional space professionals to support mission-critical analyses, operational architecture development, and strategic decision support across space domain awareness, space control, electronic warfare, directed energy effects, advanced sensors, orbit determination, position, navigation and timing, and space protection mission areas. This role combines technical analytical excellence with operational mission analyses to support the future of national security space operations. 

As a Space Domain Awareness & Mission Analyst, you'll provide technical leadership and analytical support across a wide range of space security challenges operating at the intersection of operators, engineers, intelligence professionals, acquisition stakeholders, and senior government leaders. You'll provide technical leadership and analytical support, translating complex operational problems into actionable recommendations and decision-quality products that directly impact national security. 

Work Model: 100% on-site in Colorado Springs, CO 

What You'll Do:

Space Domain Awareness & Threat Assessment 

• Analyze sensor systems – Evaluate electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), radar, and passive RF sensor concepts and architectures for space surveillance applications 

• Assess terrestrial and space-based sensor architectures supporting space domain awareness missions 

• Evaluate sensor performance, operational coverage, detection capabilities, and tracking accuracy 

• Analyze space surveillance network sensor operations and architecture integration 

• Support assessments of advanced sensor concepts for enhanced space domain awareness 

• Assess threats and build resilience – Conduct comprehensive risk assessments covering RF interference, optical threats, and counterspace capabilities affecting satellite operations 

• Analyze kinetic threats, debris environments, and collision risks to space assets 

• Evaluate counterspace threat capabilities and their operational impacts on satellite systems 

• Support space protection mission analysis and operational resilience assessments 

• Conduct threat-informed analysis examining contested space environments and emerging threat vectors 

Modeling, Simulation & Analysis 

• Model and simulate – Use industry-leading tools and custom frameworks to analyze complex space scenarios, including space domain awareness coverage, tracking performance, and threat engagement timelines 

• Develop algorithms and analytical methods to solve emerging space domain challenges 

• Create computer tools and simulations to support space surveillance, space control, and space protection missions 

• Collaborate with modeling and simulation teams to ensure operationally relevant outputs 

• Support mission-thread analysis and operational experimentation for future space capabilities 

Electronic Warfare & Directed Energy Effects 

• Analyze electronic warfare impacts on space systems and ground-based infrastructure 

• Evaluate directed energy effects on satellite operations and space mission capabilities 

• Model RF interference scenarios and assess mitigation strategies 

• Support passive RF collection modeling and analysis for space domain awareness applications 

Leadership & Mission Integration 

• Lead and mentor – Support technical leads on modeling and simulation efforts while guiding early-career engineers 

• Drive independent studies – Lead analytical teams and provide expert assessments to government stakeholders 

• Translate complex technical analysis into actionable recommendations for senior decision-makers 

• Support strategic wargames, tabletop exercises, and operational planning activities 

• Serve as technical expert bridging space domain awareness operations with analytical capabilities 

What You Need to be Successful: Engineering Specialist

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience in national security space, space operations, missile warning/defense, command and control, or related mission areas.

• Master's degree or PhD in mathematics, engineering, physics, computer science, or related field 

In additional to above for Senior Engineering Specialist:

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in space domain awareness, space control, operational analysis, mission architecture, or force design 

Technical & Mission Skills 

• Experience in Space Domain Awareness (SDA), space control, space surveillance sensors, missile warning, missile defense, or command-and-control mission areas 

• Knowledge of electronic warfare and/or directed energy effects 

• Background in modeling, simulation, and analysis 

• Proficiency in at least one programming language: Python, MATLAB, C++, Java, C, or FORTRAN 

• Experience developing computer tools, simulations, or interpreting technical analysis outputs 

• Ability to assess operational implications of technical analysis, sensor architecture assessments, and threat-informed analysis 

Professional Skills 

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to brief senior government, military, and executive stakeholders 

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex operational problems into clear recommendations and decision products 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced, classified, multi-organizational environments 

• Experience working with operators, engineers, intelligence professionals, and acquisition organizations 

• This position requires the ability to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How to Stand Out:

• Active TS/SCI clearance 

• 20+ years of operational and strategic experience across space operations, missile warning/defense, command and control, or future force design 

Operational Background 

• Operational experience as orbit analyst, space control operator, or space operations center personnel 

• Air Force Weapons School graduate 

• Space surveillance network sensor operations background  Strategic & Architecture Experience 

• Experience supporting future force design, operational architecture, or capability integration for U.S. Space Force, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Command, Missile Defense Agency, or similar organizations 

• Experience supporting national-level space wargames, operational experimentation, or contested space operations analysis 

• Experience advising senior leaders, general officer-level staff, combatant commands, or national security space organizations 

• Experience supporting multinational, joint, combatant command, or interagency planning activities 

Technical Specializations 

• Experience with EO/IR sensors, particularly for space surveillance applications 

• Experience assessing terrestrial and space-based sensor architectures for operational coverage and mission effectiveness 

• Agile software development experience with object-oriented languages 

• Experience working with modeling, simulation, sensor, EW/DE, algorithm, or systems engineering teams 

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)

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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.