Space Domain Awareness Technical Fellow

Shape the Future of Space Security

As orbital populations grow exponentially the global space community needs visionary technical leaders to ensure all operators can see understand and act with situational awareness and decision advantage.

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nations space programsoperatinga federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). We deliver innovative solutions spanning satellite launch ground and cyber systems for defense civil and commercial customers. Join a team of problem solvers and innovators defining the future of space operations.

The Opportunity

The Mission Operations Subdivisionwithin the Enterprise Effects Divisionis creating a Technical Fellow position for Space Domain Awareness (SDA)a rare opportunity to drive national strategy and technical innovation.Youllwork directly with defense civil and commercial operators and the intelligence community(IC)to architect sensor networks data fusion systems and space traffic management capabilities for an increasingly congestedcontestedandcompetitive domain.

Why This Role Matters

From Low Earth Orbit to cislunar space operators face challenges from conjunction avoidance and debris mitigation to on-orbit servicing and potential threats. This Technical Fellow will:

• Drive next-generation SDA system architectures spanning ground and space-based sensors (radar optical infrared passive RF)

• Pioneer AI/ML integration for automated tracking anomaly detection pattern-of-life analysis andsupport to space battle management

• Shape corporate investment in emerging SDA technologies with Aerospaces Office of the Chief Technology Officer

• Expand mission reach into cislunar andbeyond GEOdomain awareness

• Mentor the next generation of SDA experts across sensors data fusion orbital mechanics and object characterization

• Bridge defense intelligence civil commercial and international communities to acceleratethe delivery of solutions

Your Impact

• Partner with senior government military civilalliedand commercial leaders on critical SDA challenges

• Lead integrated architectures fusing multi-source data into actionable decision support

• Advance space traffic management collision avoidance anomaly assessment and space sustainability capabilities

• Position Aerospace as the technical leader in SDA

• Develop technical talent across national security civilalliedand commercial programs

Work Model

Full-time position based inEl Segundo CA or Chantilly VA. This role includes four or more days per week on site to enable deep customer engagement and team collaboration.

What Youll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with customers and operators to develop innovative SDA architectures addressing emerging challenges

• Engage commercial SDA providers and civil agencies to align technical approaches and data standards

• Position Aerospace as the premier SDA technical authority pioneering cislunar and deep space awareness

• Advise executives on technical investments and R&D priorities across defense civil and commercial applications

Technical Innovation

• Serve as technical authority on SDA systems leading sensor architectures data fusion systems and command and control capabilities

• Drive AI/ML applications transforming SDA operationsfrom automated tracking to predictive orbit determination

• Integrate SDA with space operationsintelligencesustainabilityandcyber

• Advance frameworks for data sharing and collaboration across government commercial and international networks

Team Development

• Mentor staff in sensor phenomenology data fusion orbital mechanics and object characterization

• Advise on succession planning and workforce development for expanding SDA missions

• Build multi-disciplinary teams spanning sensors data processing astrodynamics and analytics

What You Need to be Successful(Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelors degree in STEM Engineering Physics or related field

• 15 years in SDA space surveillance traffic management or space systemarchitectures

• Experience leading SDA sensor systems data fusion architectures and tracking solutions

• Hands-on experience with government or commercial SDA systems (SpaceSurveillanceNetworksensors IC systems or commercial platforms)

• Track recordleading R&D in sensors algorithms conjunction assessment or traffic management

• Ability to build and lead multi-disciplinary technical teams

• Exceptional communication skills engaging senior officials commercial partners and research communities

• Mentoring and leadership experience

• Ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance; U.S. citizenship

How You Can Stand Out

Academic Excellence

• MS/PhD in Aerospace Engineering Physics or related field

Technical Depth

• Expertisein orbital mechanics sensor phenomenology tracking algorithms and data fusion

• AI/ML knowledge for tracking pattern analysis anomaly detection and orbit determination

• Space-based sensor designand modeling andsimulationperformanceexperience

• Cislunar and deep space domain awareness experience

• Familiarity with conjunction assessment collision avoidance debris mitigation andspace battle management

• Understanding of cyber threats and SDA system resilience

• Knowledge of commercial SDA capabilities and business models

Mission Experience

• Delivering actionable insights on critical defense civil or commercial programs

• Prototyping and transitioning SDA solutions from concept to operations

• Compartmented DoD/IC missions(current Top Secret/SCI clearance; current Special Access Program clearances)or commercial SDA operations

• NASA civil space missions planetary defense or traffic coordination

Strategic Vision

• Bridging commercial defense and civil sectors aligning stakeholder needs with innovation

• Establishing partnerships across DoD IC NASA commercial operators and international communities

• Knowledge of international partnerships data sharing frameworks and commercial data integration

• Understanding of space policy regulatory frameworks and international norms