2026 Real-time Launch Operations Software and Data Engineer

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 Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Real-time Launch Operations Software and Data Engineer for the Engineering Applications Department (EAD) in the Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD). Position will be full-time, onsite at our office in El Segundo, CA.

Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) staff couple the latest in information system technologies, such as elastic compute clouds, containerization, microservices, real-time operating systems, and visualization frameworks, with expertise in cyber security, software architecture, software engineering, data science, Artificial Intelligence, process improvement, and software development to deliver responsive, resilient, high-performance software intensive systems to our Intelligence Community, DoD, and civilian customers.

Job Summary

Develop next generation software products and integrated enterprise capabilities that provide mission support through real-time processing and archiving launch vehicle telemetry data. Selected candidate will be a member of a team building a scalable ingestion and processing data pipeline architecture. EAD supports pre-launch, day-of-launch, sub-system, and major system tests for the Atlas V, Vulcan, Blue Origin New Glenn, and SpaceX Falcon launch vehicles as a component of the Spacelift Telemetry Acquisition and Reporting System (STARS). STARS is a mission critical capability used to certify the launch readiness of DoD and NRO space systems.

What You’ll Be Doing The ideal candidate will be an active team member developing novel software products with an opportunity to engage cross-organizationally potentially spanning data architectures, cloud migration, modeling & simulation, data science (AI/ML), advanced visualizations, mixed reality, and embedded systems.

• Work closely with software engineers and launch vehicle analysts to engineer innovative solutions to meet our customer needs.
• Develop software solutions and data pipeline processing of real-time vehicle telemetry data in support of launch operations for the STARS facility.
• Develop innovative methods to ingest and transform data and interface with legacy systems and enterprise cloud-native applications to enable critical mission analyses.
• Support performance assessment and anomaly resolution of software systems.
• Deliver high-quality products and documentation to customers on schedule.
• Training and mentorship will be provided.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer / electrical engineering or related STEM degree pursuing or conferring within 12 months
• 0-1 year of industry experience
• Experience with programing languages such as Java, Python, or C#, C++.
• General knowledge of Telemetry Technology
• Ability to work in Windows and Linux programming environments
• Experience in software engineering, full lifecycle development, and advanced problem solving
• Proven ability to take initiative and successfully complete tasks, lead complex technical projects, and collaborate effectively
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site approx. 10% of the time if required.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree

• Active security clearance (DoD/Secret)

• Additional working knowledge and/or academic experience with any of the following:
• Telemetry Technology
• Development and architecture of real-time data processing solutions
• Telemetry-over-IP (TMoIP) streams
• Data analytics tools for data pipelines, cloud storage, and interactive visualization dashboards
• Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max) $90,000.00 - $115,000.00

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

Ways We Reward Our Employees

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 various 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.