On-Site Missile Navigation Analyst (Hill AFB, Utah)

About the role

We are seeking a Missile Navigation Analyst to independently evaluate the navigation accuracy performance of the Sentinel strategic missile system. This will be an on-site position, working at Hill Air Force Base alongside other on-site APL personnel, our government sponsor, other government mission partners, and the Sentinel contractor.

Responsibilities

• Interface directly with the sponsor to understand their needs.
• Work with APL’s Sentinel key leaders, System Definition and Validation Group (KBY) and other line-side key leaders, and fellow members of KBY’s on-site technical team to recommend, support, and execute APL work in support of the Sentinel Program Office’s desire to “own the technical baseline”.
• Maintain regular communications with APL’s program and project managers, line-side leaders and organizations, and fellow members of the KBY on-site technical team to increase awareness of Sentinel activities, developments, decisions, areas of concern, and opportunities where APL can help the Sentinel program.
• Serve as a technical advisor and subject matter expert to the government for missile navigation and reentry vehicle (RV) accuracy performance. This includes communicating accuracy evaluation results, methodologies, and processes, and acting as a liaison between the government and the APL home campus team.
• Work with the Sentinel Prime Contractor and other industry partners to advise, review, and contribute to the evaluation of Sentinel test data and the development and testing of accuracy evaluation processes.
• Participate in and present at navigation accuracy related meetings and broader Guidance, Navigation, and Control meetings.
• Utilize APL-developed tools, processes, and methodologies to evaluate accuracy across all phases of Sentinel flight and reentry using real flight and ground test data.

Requirements

• Have a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics (or closely related technical field), with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Have 3 years of specific experience or in one or more of the following: Estimation Methods (Kalman Filters), Inertial Navigation, or Flight Dynamics.
• Be proficient in Matlab.
• Have a strong sense of curiosity to understand how and why a system works and the ambition to follow up on that curiosity.
• Be a thought leader with a keen ability to influence others.
• Be able to effectively shape the day-to-day tasking to meet sponsor needs, multi-task, and adapt to changing demands with minimal guidance.
• Have exceptionally strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, and ability to interface with senior military and civil service personnel.
• Be willing to relocate to Utah in the vicinity of Hill AFB, with periodic travel to APL, contractor sites, and to other locations.
• Be willing and able to travel occasionally (potentially 5-6 trips per year of duration one week or less, including travel back to the APL Laurel campus).
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI level clearance.

Qualifications

• Meet our minimum qualifications if you have a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics (or closely related technical field), with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Have 3 years of specific experience or in one or more of the following: Estimation Methods (Kalman Filters), Inertial Navigation, or Flight Dynamics.
• Be proficient in Matlab.
• Have a strong sense of curiosity to understand how and why a system works and the ambition to follow up on that curiosity.
• Be a thought leader with a keen ability to influence others.
• Be able to effectively shape the day-to-day tasking to meet sponsor needs, multi-task, and adapt to changing demands with minimal guidance.
• Have exceptionally strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, and ability to interface with senior military and civil service personnel.
• Be willing to relocate to Utah in the vicinity of Hill AFB, with periodic travel to APL, contractor sites, and to other locations.
• Be willing and able to travel occasionally (potentially 5-6 trips per year of duration one week or less, including travel back to the APL Laurel campus).
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI level clearance.