Engineering Specialist- Electromechanical Control Department

Job Summary

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; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments. 

The Electromechanical Control Department (ECD) is charged with the responsibility of providing technical support in the areas of hardware used for spacecraft and launch vehicles, as well as terrestrial and aerial applications. We specialize in mission critical control sensor and actuator, including Electric Motors, Gyroscopes and IMUs, Accelerometers, Gimbals, Steering Mirrors, Encoders & Resolvers, Star Trackers, GPS Receivers, Capacitive & Inductive Sensors, Servo Mechanism, Thrust Vector Control, and Reaction Wheels.  

As an Engineering Specialist in ECD, you will plan and conduct technical studies and experimental investigations to support customer programs, interacting with government customers, program management, and contractors. 

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, which will follow a hybrid work model, offering partially remote work as business needs allow.  

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Technical studies often involve evaluation, analysis, modeling or simulation of control systems and their components

• Experimental investigations in the Mechatronics Research Laboratory (managed by ECD) and/or other Aerospace labs may include controller design and implementation, data reduction and visualization, sensor and actuator performance evaluation, and electro-optical systems calibration and alignment

• Tasks typically involve interaction with government customers, program management, and contractors to support multiple programs. Clearly communicate the results of studies while working with both internal and external customers and stakeholders as a technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader

• You should have strong people skills which includes coaching, mentoring, training, motivating and directing employees to optimize workplace productivity and promote professional growth  

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field is required

• 8 years of applicable professional or educational experience is required

• Expertise in laboratory experimentation, test strategy development, experiment design, and integration and testing

• A strong working knowledge of electronics, mechanical design, control systems, inertial sensors, and actuators applicable to spacecraft and/or launch vehicles

• Experience performing technical support in complex environments (multi-program, multi-agency) involving customers, program offices, engineering support, and contractors

• Proficiency in tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, dSPACE, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, C/C++, Python

• Willingness to occasionally travel and support customer needs, approximately 10% (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. 

How You Can Stand Out  

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Advanced degree in a STEM field is strongly preferred 

• Strong expertise in areas such as: electromechanical interface development, GPS receiver testing and associated algorithms, space vehicle control electronics and avionics systems, electronic circuit design and analysis, laser communications and optics, signal processing and filtering, real-time software development is preferred

• Familiarity with launch vehicle and satellite payloads and control, their relationships to other subsystems, and to mission-level performance is desirable

• Demonstrated ability to provide innovative solutions to challenging technical problems

• Experience in mentoring junior technical staffs

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of customer, corporate staff, and contractors  

• Active secret clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.