Space Domain Awareness Technical Fellow at The Aerospace Corporation — El Segundo, CA

Shape the Future of Space Security

As orbital populations grow exponentially, the global space community needs visionary technical leaders to ensure all operators can see, understand, and act with situational awareness and decision advantage.

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, operating a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). We deliver innovative solutions spanning satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers. Join a team of problem solvers and innovators defining the future of space operations.

The Opportunity

The Mission Operations Subdivision within the Enterprise Effects Division is creating a Technical Fellow position for Space Domain Awareness (SDA), a rare opportunity to drive national strategy and technical innovation. You'll work directly with defense, civil, and commercial operators, and the intelligence community (IC) to architect sensor networks, data fusion systems, and space traffic management capabilities for an increasingly congested, contested, and competitive domain.

Why This Role Matters

From Low Earth Orbit to cislunar space, operators face challenges from conjunction avoidance and debris mitigation to on-orbit servicing and potential threats. This Technical Fellow will:

• Drive next-generation SDA system architectures spanning ground and space-based sensors (radar, optical, infrared, passive RF)
• Pioneer AI/ML integration for automated tracking, anomaly detection, pattern-of-life analysis, and support to space battle management
• Shape corporate investment in emerging SDA technologies with Aerospace's Office of the Chief Technology Officer
• Expand mission reach into cislunar and beyond GEO domain awareness
• Mentor the next generation of SDA experts across sensors, data fusion, orbital mechanics, and object characterization
• Bridge defense, intelligence, civil, commercial, and international communities to accelerate the delivery of solutions

Your Impact

• Partner with senior government, military, civil, allied, and commercial leaders on critical SDA challenges
• Lead integrated architectures fusing multi-source data into actionable decision support
• Advance space traffic management, collision avoidance, anomaly assessment, and space sustainability capabilities
• Position Aerospace as the technical leader in SDA
• Develop technical talent across national security, civil, allied, and commercial programs

Work Model

Full-time position based in El Segundo, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; or Chantilly, VA. This role includes four or more days per week on site to enable deep customer engagement and team collaboration.

What You'll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with customers and operators to develop innovative SDA architectures addressing emerging challenges
• Engage commercial SDA providers and civil agencies to align technical approaches and data standards
• Position Aerospace as the premier SDA technical authority, pioneering cislunar and deep space awareness
• Advise executives on technical investments and R&D priorities across defense, civil, and commercial applications

Technical Innovation

• Serve as technical authority on SDA systems, leading sensor architectures, data fusion systems, and command and control capabilities
• Drive AI/ML applications transforming SDA operations from automated tracking to predictive orbit determination
• Integrate SDA with space operations, intelligence, sustainability, and cyber
• Advance frameworks for data sharing and collaboration across government, commercial, and international networks

Team Development

• Mentor staff in sensor phenomenology, data fusion, orbital mechanics, and object characterization
• Advise on succession planning and workforce development for expanding SDA missions
• Build multi-disciplinary teams spanning sensors, data processing, astrodynamics, and analytics

What You Need to be Successful (Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in STEM, Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 15+ years in SDA, space surveillance, traffic management, or space system architectures
• Experience leading SDA sensor systems, data fusion architectures, and tracking solutions
• Hands-on experience with government or commercial SDA systems (Space Surveillance Network sensors, IC systems, or commercial platforms)
• Track record leading R&D in sensors, algorithms, conjunction assessment, or traffic management
• Ability to build and lead multi-disciplinary technical teams
• Exceptional communication skills engaging senior officials, commercial partners, and research communities
• Mentoring and leadership experience
• Ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship required

How You Can Stand Out

Academic Excellence

• MS/PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field

Technical Depth

• Expertise in orbital mechanics, sensor phenomenology, tracking algorithms, and data fusion
• AI/ML knowledge for tracking, pattern analysis, anomaly detection, and orbit determination
• Space-based sensor design and modeling and simulation performance experience
• Cislunar and deep space domain awareness experience
• Familiarity with conjunction assessment, collision avoidance, debris mitigation, and space battle management
• Understanding of cyber threats and SDA system resilience
• Knowledge of commercial SDA capabilities and business models

Mission Experience

• Delivering actionable insights on critical defense, civil, or commercial programs
• Prototyping and transitioning SDA solutions from concept to operations
• Compartmented DoD/IC missions (current Top Secret/SCI clearance; current Special Access Program clearances) or commercial SDA operations
• NASA civil space missions, planetary defense, or traffic coordination

Strategic Vision

• Bridging commercial, defense, and civil sectors, aligning stakeholder needs with innovation
• Establishing partnerships across DoD, IC, NASA, commercial operators, and international communities
• Knowledge of international partnerships, data sharing frameworks, and commercial data integration
• Understanding of space policy, regulatory frameworks, and international norms

(Min - Max)

$203,800.00 - $305,600.00

Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

• 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

Equal Opportunity Commitment