Electromechanical Controls Engineer (Electric Motor Specialist)

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.

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls, robotics, electro-mechanical devices, embedded systems, fluid mechanics, propulsion, thermal control, orbital mechanics, mechanisms, structures, structural dynamics, and dynamic environments.

The Electromechanical Control Department (ECD) is charged with the responsibility of providing technical support in the areas of hardware used for spacecraft and launch vehicles, as well as terrestrial and aerial applications. We specialize in mission critical control sensors and actuators, including Electric Motors, Gyroscopes and IMUs, Accelerometers, Gimbals, Steering Mirrors, Encoders & Resolvers, Star Trackers, GPS Receivers, Capacitive & Inductive Sensors, Servo Mechanism, Thrust Vector Control Actuators, and Reaction Wheels.

As an Electromechanical Controls Engineer (Engineering Specialist – Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering) in ECD, you will plan and conduct technical studies, experimental investigations, and verification activities to support customer programs, while interacting with government customers, program management, and contractors.

This position is located in El Segundo, CA., requiring at least 4 days onsite.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conduct technical studies involving the testing, evaluation, analysis, or simulation of control hardware components

• Verify contractor designs, approaches, and overall system performance

• Supervise and support experimental investigations in the Mechatronics Research Laboratory (managed by ECD) and/or other Aerospace labs including control sensor and actuator performance evaluation, controller design and implementation, and data reduction and visualization associated with the study of key hardware components

• Interact with government customers, program management, and contractors supporting multiple programs

• Clearly communicate the results of studies while working with both internal and external customers and stakeholders as a technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent

• 6 years or more of applicable professional or educational experience

• Expertise with laboratory experimentation, test strategy development, experiment design, and integration and testing

• Strong working knowledge of electronics, mechanical design, control systems, inertial sensors, and actuators applicable to spacecraft and/or launch vehicles

• Experience performing technical support in complex environments (multi-program, multi-agency) involving customers, program offices, engineering support, and contractors

• Proficiency with tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, C/C++, Python

• Flexibility for up to 10% travel and availability during non-standard hours to meet customer demands

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in a STEM field or equivalent is preferred

• Expertise in electric motors: electric motors and drive electronics, specifically brushless direct-current electric (BLDC) motors, servo and stepper motors, direct drive and geared, servo control; have design, modeling, simulation, and test experience with motors, actuators, and electromagnetic design/analysis software

• OR expertise in areas such as: electromechanical interface development, GPS receiver testing and associated algorithms, space vehicle control electronics and avionics systems, electronic circuit design and analysis, laser communications and optics, signal processing and filtering, real-time software development

• Familiarity with launch vehicle and satellite payloads and control, their relationships to other subsystems, and to mission-level performance

• Demonstrated ability to provide innovative solutions to challenging technical problems

• Demonstrated experience mentoring and building a product team that maintains working relationships with all levels of customer, corporate staff, and contractors

• Experience identifying new business opportunities and bringing tasks and projects from internal and external sources to your team

• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

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)

$117,300.00 - $175,900.00Pay 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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.