MDA Target Mission Assurance 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.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

DSG is seeking a Mission Assurance Engineer primarily supporting the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Targets Program.  Target systems are used to test, verify, and validate performance of the missile defense system and include launch vehicles, payloads, and launch support equipment. The objective is to simulate threats ranging from Short Range Ballistic Missiles up to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles with air and ground launching modes. Target vehicles are critical to demonstrating the operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the missile defense system. The selected candidate will lead Aerospace’s Mission Assurance support leading hardware pedigree reviews, non-conformance assessments, and to provide technical guidance in the design, development, integration, and delivery of threat-representative, reliable, and cost-effective targets for the missile defense system. The selected candidate will work with a combined team of government, private contractors, FFRDC/UARC, and SETA personnel performing mission assurance reviews, engineering design assessment, support development testing, and fielding of targets and payloads to advance the U.S. Missile Defense Capabilities.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Huntsville, AL or El Segundo, CA.   

What You’ll Be Doing

• Collaborate directly with MDA’s Targets program office to provide agile mission assurance for design, production, testing, and fielding of the threat-representative targets
• Assemble teams of appropriate Aerospace subject matter experts to perform assessments of non-compliance, review qualification/acceptance reports and provide recommendations to the Missile Defense Agency

• Travel to contractor facilities to perform pedigree review of target subsystems/systems design and mission planning to ensure flight worthiness
• Evaluate out-of-position work, out-of-sequence work and disposition of non-conformances to assess the impact on mission risk and to provide recommendations to reduce risk.
• Shape customer and requirements definition for MDA mission assurance flight systems
• Development, coordination, execution, and approval of technical assessments and analyses

• This role is uniquely positioned to ensure MDA flight test campaigns are successful

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer - Mission Assurance Engineering:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in appropriate engineering, physics, mathematics, or equivalent technical disciplines such as aerospace, electrical, or mechanical or systems engineering
• 12 or more years of experience in launch vehicles or missile systems
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and leading multidiscipline technical teams formed to solve complex aerospace challenges
• Familiarity with Military, SMC, and Industry testing standards applicable to launch vehicles
• Maintain relationships with a diverse Aerospace staff spanning multiple locations and time zones and achieve responsiveness to customer-rapid response tasking
• Communicate effectively with senior Customer, Contractor, and Aerospace management
• Be cognizant of emerging issues, findings and special technical focus areas that need attention
• Willing to travel to Customer or contractor location approx. 20% of the time as required
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain Secret clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. 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:

• Masters or PhD degree in appropriate engineering, physics, mathematics, or equivalent technical disciplines
• Direct Mission Assurance Experience - Demonstrated track record leading hardware pedigree reviews, non-conformance assessments, and quality assurance processes for complex aerospace or defense systems, particularly for flight-critical hardware
• Ballistic Missile or Launch Vehicle Background - Hands-on experience with ballistic missile systems, launch vehicles, or rocket propulsion systems, including familiarity with staging, trajectory analysis, and flight test operations from Short Range to ICBM-class systems
• Multi-Organization Leadership Skills - Proven ability to lead technical reviews and coordinate across diverse stakeholder groups including government agencies (especially MDA or DoD), prime contractors, FFRDCs, and SETA support teams in high-stakes programs
• Threat System Knowledge - Understanding of threat-representative target design requirements, countermeasures, or operational test scenarios used in missile defense testing and validation
• Integration & Test Campaign Experience - Direct involvement in the full lifecycle from design review through integration, ground testing, and flight test execution for complex multi-component systems with high reliability requirements

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)

$151,300.00 - $226,900.00

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