Section Manger – Flight Controls Manager

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 Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls;

robotics; electro‑mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

The Flight Control Section of the Guidance Analysis Department provides support for launch vehicle, missile systems, and missile defense systems for a wide range of customers including the Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), the Missile Defense Agency, and other civil customers (e.g. NASA). We are looking for a Flight Controls Section Manager (Guidance, Navigation & Control) to provide technical leadership, mentoring, and career guidance for members of the section.

The selected candidate will be required to work 4 days onsite at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

• Promoting the use and application of advanced flight control techniques for analysis and simulation of GNC systems
• Fostering the creation and use of new tools to sustain and advance section expertise
• Providing task planning, schedule, and labor estimates for proposed technical work assignments, advising supervision of resources needs and capabilities, and providing inputs for budgetary planning
• Participating in day-to-day technical activities and task accomplishments, monitoring and evaluating processes, techniques, and performance, and reviewing documentation and delivery of services
• Working closely with customers to coordinate tasking, report progress, resolve technical issues, and assure project success, and initiating and coordinating exchanges of technical information with other work groups and organizations
• Recommending staffing needs, reassignments, transfers, and terminations, assisting in evaluation of potential staff additions, and conducting performance reviews and providing recommendations on performance improvements, career development, and promotional actions
• Participating in inter‑organizational team assignments and educational activities
• Identifying opportunities for additional, expanded, and new business and assisting higher management in the evaluation and pursuit of new business opportunities

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent is required
• A minimum of (5) years of applicable professional or educational experience is required
• Experience modeling and simulating subsystems, mechanisms, and flying vehicles in a dynamic environment
• Experience in control system design and analysis techniques
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with customers and corporate staff
• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off‑business hours to support customer needs, approximately 5% (as required)
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

• Advanced degreein a STEM field or equivalent is preferred
• Ideally, (7) or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience is a plus
• Interest in applying advanced analysis techniques and modern methodologies to flight control…