Section Manger – Mechatronics Modeling and Simulation

The Electromechanical Control Department (ECD) is charged with the responsibility of providing technical support in the areas of control system hardware and algorithms for both spacecraft and launch vehicles. ECD subject matter experts specialize in key components such as gyroscopes, star trackers, encoders, motors, accelerometers, reaction wheels, fast steering mirrors, servo mechanisms, GPS receivers, thrust vector control, and others.  The department performs both technical studies and experimental investigations to support customer programs. Technical studies often involve the analysis, simulation, evaluation, or testing of control systems and their components. Experimental investigations 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.

As the Section Manager of the Mechatronics Modeling and Simulation section within ECD, you will spearhead technical leadership, mentorship, and career growth for our team members. You will foster their professional development through targeted assignments, mentoring relationships, specialized training, and consistent feedback. Collaborating with the department director and section managers, you will contribute to staffing decisions, performance evaluations, and other supervisory responsibilities. Your role will also encompass guiding technical studies, simulations, analyses, and testing of electromechanical control systems to support a range of satellite and launch vehicle programs. By applying engineering principles, you will tackle multifaceted challenges, participate in strategic planning, and provide expert insights on customer projects. 

Work Model 

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA that combines 4 to 5 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and mentor the Mechatronics Modeling and Simulation Section of the department, offering technical guidance and career development support for 5-7 early to mid-career engineering professionals

• Elevate team members' technical competencies and contextual understanding through tailored work assignments, mentoring relationships, and training initiatives

• Collaborate with department leadership to address staffing needs, conduct performance reviews, and manage supervisory tasks

• Lead technical studies involving testing, modeling, simulation, and analysis of electromechanical control systems and components for satellite and launch vehicle programs

• Apply engineering methodologies to a wide spectrum of problems, contributing to innovative solutions

• Engage in new business endeavors and strategic planning, potentially bringing in tasks and projects from both internal and external sources

• Provide oversight, counsel, and specialized expertise to customer projects, encompassing analytical studies and experimental assessments of control system hardware

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Section Manager of the Mechatronics Modeling and Simulation include: 

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent is required

• A minimum of (5) years of relevant professional or educational experience is required

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

• Working understanding of electronics, mechanical design, control systems, inertial sensors, and actuators

• Experience with spacecraft and/or launch vehicle control hardware

• Track record of offering technical support in complex environments (multi-program, multi-agency) involving customers, program offices, engineering support, and contractors

• Proven experience in training and mentoring junior technical staff 

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for interactions with management, program offices, customers, contractors, and colleagues

• Flexibility for up to 25% travel and availability during non-standard hours to meet customer demands

• 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 or equivalent is preferred

• 8 or more years of increasingly responsible professional experience is strongly desired

• Demonstrated aptitude for innovative problem-solving to challenging technical problems 

• Preference would be given to candidates with significant experience in system engineering, launch vehicle systems, space vehicle control systems, space vehicle payload systems, mechanical design, additive manufacturing, structural analysis, dynamics, electronic circuit design and analysis, optics, GPS receiver testing, servo mechanism performance evaluation, small satellite development, unmanned aircraft systems, or robotics

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

• Proven background in mentoring and team building

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

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