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 Aerospace Corporation's Experiment Lab, xLab, develops prototypes, instruments, pathfinders, and demonstration systems to address our customers' hardest problems at the speed of need. We engage with our customers to conceptualize innovative solutions and deliver impactful products for ground and space and everything in between. We are looking for engineers with a passion for design, a commitment to teamwork and a desire to help xLab make a difference to today's challenges.
The Small Satellite Department conceives, develops, and operates small satellite missions in partnership with a broad array of customers. The department comprises a core group of 15-20 engineers and technologists. As a leader in the development and operation of small satellite systems, we look to the next decade of advancing technologies and capabilities, improving reliability, and promoting a mission-centric approach to system development. The team is currently seeking a Small Satellite Embedded Software Engineer to support small satellite payloads and spacecraft sub-systems. The position offers the opportunity for a creative individual to innovate in a fast-paced instrument development environment where direct access to and mentoring by senior staff are provided to accelerate the learning process.
Work Model : This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines regular onsite work and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.
What You'll Be Doing
- Develop microcontroller-scale computer architectures for small satellite embedded systems (e.g., Microchip PIC, Vorago Cortex-M0/M4/M7, Xlinix Zynq)
- Design, test, and debug embedded microcontroller/microprocessor applications
- Assist with software releases, deployments, and documentation
- Coordinate with subsystem leads to define software requirements and interfaces
- Develop software libraries and applications to support satellites testing and operations
Minimum Requirements :
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or a related discipline
- Five or more years of related experience
- Embedded systems development experience, e.g., working knowledge of real-time design, verification workflow, etc.
- Hardware debugging skills & experience with power supplies, signal generators, oscilloscopes and/or logic analyzers.
- Programming experience with embedded microcontrollers or microprocessors
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Capacity to work on multiple tasks concurrently
- 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.
In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Engineering Specialist include:
- Deep knowledge of RTOS and embedded Linux development, resiliency and fault tolerance techniques, bus, data communication and networking protocols
- Large systems experience, e.g., workload orchestration and containerization, engineering geographically dispersed services, multi-vendor services integration
- Eight or more years of related experience
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
Sr. Member of Technical Staff or Engineering Specialist
- Masters or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or a related discipline
- Familiarity with C, Python, ROS2
- Familiarity with standard electrical interfaces: RS232/RS422 (UART), SPI, i2C, USB and ethernet
- Experience with Quasar, Bootstrap, and Python web frameworks (Django, Flask, ...)
- Familiarity with containerization platforms such as Docker
(Min - Max)
$110,400 - $193,500
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
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 You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.