Section Manager: RPO Maneuver and Orbits Section  

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.
At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration - to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.
The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace's strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities.
As a core component of EED, the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department provides flight mechanics expertise for launch and space vehicles. This includes expertise in orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. The department is a critical integration partner for a wide range of engineering disciplines to facilitate the company's mission of providing multi-disciplinary insights. We are looking for a Section Manager to lead the Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) Maneuver and Orbits Section (RMOS) of the organization. As the lead of RMOS, the selected candidate will help formulate the delivery of critical RPO trajectory-centric and orbit-centric analyses, tools, and capabilities, providing stand-alone services and integrable modules for partners to leverage. This candidate will become a leading corporate voice in shaping Aerospace's strategic vision for RPO services provided to a wide range of defense, intelligence, and civil and commercial customers.
Work Model

• This position will be a hybrid work model based in El Segundo, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, Chantilly, VA, or Albuquerque, NM, with the expectation that the selected candidate works at least 4 days per week onsite, as the business needs allow.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading teams (7-10 staff) performing RPO trajectory design and optimization, incorporating realistic constraints in the evaluation of mission objectives

• Leading teams performing RPO orbit design, selection, and analysis to ensure proper creation and assessment of RPO mission sequences

• Cultivating a landscape where state-of-the-art capabilities for optimization and orbits modeling are applied for RPO-specific applications, leveraging external tools (e.g. GPOPS-II, ASSET, OTIS, SNOPT, IPOPT, etc.) while also advancing a healthy internal tool base

• Partnering with other corporate RPO entities to provide necessary RPO capabilities for integration into multi-disciplinary analysis workflows

• Supporting cooperative and non-cooperative RPO analysis frameworks, exploring multi-objective, multi-turn scenarios, leveraging game-theory, pursuer-evasion techniques, and possibly AI/ML/DRL techniques

• Partnering with other flight dynamics teams in the subdivision to provide bench depth and career growth opportunities

• Developing relationships with customers to facilitate solutions for existing and emerging challenges

• Providing strategic vision for the RMOS mission area and effectively communicating the vision

• Managing department resources across multiple focus areas and geographic locations

• Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and developing exceptional talent for the section, department, and organization

What You Need to be Successful - Section Manager: RPO Maneuver and Orbits Section - FLIGHT MECHANICS
Minimum Requirements:

• Masters degree in applicable STEM areas

• Typically, 8 years of applicable professional or educational experience is desired

• Experience with project leadership and demonstrated ability to initiate and lead team efforts

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the proven ability to influence a technical organization

• Proven ability to foster an environment where teammates collaborate and work across organizational lines for the strategic benefit of all parties, including internal and external equities

• Experience in one or more of these programming languages and environments: C, C++, Fortran, Python, Linux, and/or Matlab

• Willing to travel domestically approx. 10%

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security 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:

• PhD degree in an applicable field

• Experience working in a dynamic environment with development of new technology and research focus areas

• Operational experience doing maneuver planning and optimization for real-world RPO missions

• Experience with military exercises and wargaming events

• Current TS/SCI or TS/SAP access

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)
$147,600 - $221,400
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 diverse 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/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 [email protected]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.