2026 Electromechanical Controls Engineer at The Aerospace Corporation — El Segundo, CA

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; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

The Electromechanical Control Department (ECD) provides technical support in the areas of electromechanical control systems, control system hardware and algorithms used for spacecraft and launch vehicles, as well as terrestrial and aerial applications. We specialize in mission critical control sensor and actuator, including electric motors, gyroscopes and IMUs, accelerometers, gimbals, steering mirrors, encoders & resolvers, star trackers, GPS receivers, capacitive & inductive sensors, servo mechanism, reaction wheels, and thrust vector control actuators.

As a Junior Electromechanical Controls Engineer (Associate Member of Technical Staff - Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineering) in ECD, you will plan and conduct technical studies and experimental investigations to support customer programs, interacting with government customers, program management, and contractors.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conducting technical studies that often involve the analysis, simulation, evaluation, or testing of control systems and their components.
• Verifying contractor designs, approaches, and overall system performance
• Performing experimental investigations in the Mechatronics Research Laboratory (managed by ECD) and/or other Aerospace labs may include controller design and implementation, data reduction and visualization, sensor and actuator performance evaluation, and electro-optical systems calibration and alignment.
• Supporting multiple programs, clearly communicating the results of studies while working with both internal and external customers and stakeholders as a technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader.
• Communicating both orally and in writing with higher management, program offices, customers, contractors, and colleagues.

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Must work well in a team environment
• Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or related disciplines (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year industry experience
• Proficiency in laboratory experimentation, test strategy development, experiment design, and integration and testing
• Experience with 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 in tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, C/C++, Python
• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required)
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
• Transcripts

How You Can Stand Out

• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering or related disciplines (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• Hardware expertise in sensors, actuators, and integrated systems, e.g., electric motors, rotational sensors, reaction wheels, and control moment gyros, etc.
• Familiarity with launch vehicle and satellite payloads and control, their relationships to other subsystems, and to mission-level performance
• Active secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

(Min - Max)

$90,000.00 - $100,000.00

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