Senior Space Development Agency Tracking Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation

Senior Project Engineer in Missile Defense supporting SDA's Tracking Cell at Aerospace Corporation. Leading mission architecture development and providing technical leadership across multiple platforms and stakeholders.

Posted 4/29/2026full-timeEl Segundo • California, Colorado, New Mexico • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $166,400 - $249,600 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

TypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the SDA Tracking Cell Director and Tracking Tranche Program Managers
Provide expertise in Missile Warning (MW), Missile Tracking (MT), and Missile Defense (MD) mission architecture definition, performance modeling and evaluation, acquisition oversight, operations planning, and external stakeholder enterprise mission integration
Provide technical leadership to SDA across all tranches, including understanding of MWTD architectural modeling and requirements as well as acquisition support, enterprise MWTD stakeholder coordination and partner system operational integration, warfighter mission involvement, and ensuring that SDA tracking space and ground efforts fulfill warfighter requirements
Interact with SDA senior leaders, FFRDCs, SETAs, and UARC personnel across all SDA program cells and mission areas
Engage with external mission stakeholders and partners across the DoD as well as industry partners on potential technology developments
Provide MWTD mission systems engineering, integration, and test expertise to help guide contract execution, performance assessments and trades, on-orbit operations planning and analysis, PWSA space and ground system integration, technology roadmap development, and future tranche requirement definition
Assist the government in monitoring contractor execution, providing direct systems engineering and subject matter expert (SME) support, and directing the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group (ETG) SME support to all tracking operations, integration, and acquisition efforts

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program in engineering, math, computer science, physics, or other related discipline
12 or more years of increasingly responsible and related engineering/scientific experience
Relevant, progressive work experience in Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense (MWTD) space vehicle development and test, and in space-to-ground system integration
Experience leading, working, and communicating effectively as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, reacting quickly and providing products of consistent, high quality
Demonstrated ability to build and lead cross-functional high-performance teams
Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes utilizing objective facts
Ability to build and/or maintain substantive rapport with Aerospace peers and government customers
Ability to work with the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group matrix and other Aerospace program offices
Excellent written communication skills, organizing complex materials and concepts in a manner that is clear and logical
Excellent verbal communication skills building consensus through speaking with clear, concise, persuasive, and polished professional style
Candidate must be willing to travel domestically approximately 10% of the time
Current and active TS/SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. US citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Benefits

Comp & perks

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

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Missile WarningMissile TrackingMissile Defensemission architecture definitionperformance modelingsystems engineeringintegrationtest expertisespace-to-ground system integrationacquisition oversight

Soft Skills

technical leadershipteamworkcommunicationinfluence outcomesrapport buildingorganizational skillsverbal communicationwritten communicationcross-functional team leadershipadaptability

Certifications

Bachelor of Science degreeTS/SCI clearance