Space Domain Awareness and Mission Analyst

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 deliver innovative solutions spanning satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers.

About the role

Join the Enterprise Effects Division (EED) at The Aerospace Corporation, where we tackle some of the nation's most critical space challenges. Our division integrates strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, working on everything from concept design to performance assessment of space and space-enabled systems. This role combines technical analytical excellence with operational mission analyses to support the future of national security space operations.

As a Space Domain Awareness & Mission Analyst, you'll provide technical leadership and analytical support across a wide range of space security challenges, operating at the intersection of operators, engineers, intelligence professionals, acquisition stakeholders, and senior government leaders. You'll translate complex operational problems into actionable recommendations and decision-quality products that directly impact national security.

Work Model: 100% on-site in Colorado Springs, CO.

Responsibilities

• Space Domain Awareness & Threat Assessment
  • Analyze sensor systems – Evaluate electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), radar, and passive RF sensor concepts and architectures for space surveillance applications.
  • Assess terrestrial and space-based sensor architectures supporting space domain awareness missions.
  • Evaluate sensor performance, operational coverage, detection capabilities, and tracking accuracy.
  • Analyze space surveillance network sensor operations and architecture integration.
  • Support assessments of advanced sensor concepts for enhanced space domain awareness.
  • Conduct comprehensive risk assessments covering RF interference, optical threats, and counterspace capabilities affecting satellite operations.
  • Analyze kinetic threats, debris environments, and collision risks to space assets.
  • Evaluate counterspace threat capabilities and their operational impacts on satellite systems.
  • Support space protection mission analysis and operational resilience assessments.
  • Conduct threat-informed analysis examining contested space environments and emerging threat vectors.
• Modeling, Simulation & Analysis
  • Use industry-leading tools and custom frameworks to analyze complex space scenarios, including space domain awareness coverage, tracking performance, and threat engagement timelines.
  • Develop algorithms and analytical methods to solve emerging space domain challenges.
  • Create computer tools and simulations to support space surveillance, space control, and space protection missions.
  • Collaborate with modeling and simulation teams to ensure operationally relevant outputs.
  • Support mission-thread analysis and operational experimentation for future space capabilities.
• Electronic Warfare & Directed Energy Effects
  • Analyze electronic warfare impacts on space systems and ground-based infrastructure.
  • Evaluate directed energy effects on satellite operations and space mission capabilities.
  • Model RF interference scenarios and assess mitigation strategies.
  • Support passive RF collection modeling and analysis for space domain awareness applications.
• Leadership & Mission Integration
  • Support technical leads on modeling and simulation efforts while guiding early-career engineers.
  • Lead analytical teams and provide expert assessments to government stakeholders.
  • Translate complex technical analysis into actionable recommendations for senior decision-makers.
  • Support strategic wargames, tabletop exercises, and operational planning activities.
  • Serve as technical expert bridging space domain awareness operations with analytical capabilities.

Requirements

• Engineering Specialist
  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience in national security space, space operations, missile warning/defense, command and control, or related mission areas.
  • Master's degree or PhD in mathematics, engineering, physics, computer science, or related field.
• Senior Engineering Specialist
  • Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in space domain awareness, space control, operational analysis, mission architecture, or force design.
• Technical & Mission Skills
  • Experience in Space Domain Awareness (SDA), space control, space surveillance sensors, missile warning, missile defense, or command-and-control mission areas.
  • Knowledge of electronic warfare and/or directed energy effects.
  • Background in modeling, simulation, and analysis.
  • Proficiency in at least one programming language: Python, MATLAB, C++, Java, C, or FORTRAN.
  • Experience developing computer tools, simulations, or interpreting technical analysis outputs.
  • Ability to assess operational implications of technical analysis, sensor architecture assessments, and threat-informed analysis.
• Professional Skills
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to brief senior government, military, and executive stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex operational problems into clear recommendations and decision products.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced, classified, multi-organizational environments.
  • Experience working with operators, engineers, intelligence professionals, and acquisition organizations.
  • U.S. citizenship required (for security clearance eligibility).
  • Current or recent eligibility for TS/SCI access and willingness to support SAP/SAR, polygraph, or other security requirements as needed.

Qualifications (How to Stand Out)

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• 20+ years of operational and strategic experience across space operations, missile warning/defense, command and control, or future force design.
• Operational Background
  • Operational experience as orbit analyst, space control operator, or space operations center personnel.
  • Air Force Weapons School graduate.
  • Space surveillance network sensor operations background.
• Strategic & Architecture Experience
  • Experience supporting future force design, operational architecture, or capability integration for U.S. Space Force, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Command, Missile Defense Agency, or similar organizations.
  • Experience supporting national-level space wargames, operational experimentation, or contested space operations analysis.
  • Experience advising senior leaders, general officer-level staff, combatant commands, or national security space organizations.
  • Experience supporting multinational, joint, combatant command, or interagency planning activities.
• Technical Specializations
  • Experience with EO/IR sensors, particularly for space surveillance applications.
  • Experience assessing terrestrial and space-based sensor architectures for operational coverage and mission effectiveness.
  • Agile software development experience with object-oriented languages.
  • Experience working with modeling, simulation, sensor, EW/DE, algorithm, or systems engineering teams.

Pay

The grade-based pay range for this job is $117,300.00 - $226,900.00 annually. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Benefits

• 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.

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. To cultivate our talent and ensure a strong pipeline of future leaders, we seek individuals who:

• Operate Strategically.
• Lead Change.
• Engage with Impact.
• Foster Innovation.
• Deliver Results.