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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

We are seeking a senior-level Chief Systems Engineering Lead to join the Defense Strategic Space Advanced Capabilities office and provides support to the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Advanced Capabilities (PAE-AC).  This role provides technical expertise and engineering support in the development and fielding of critical capabilities.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing technical authority and leadership for multi-program portfolio of proliferated acquisitions
• Serving as technical lead across organizational boundaries
• Defining and coordinating teams to address difficult technical issues internal to the program and across program lines, and communicating recommendations to Aerospace and customer management
• Identify, analyze, and mitigate technical, schedule, or cost risks impacting mission success.
• Cross-Functional integration across manufacturing, quality assurance, project management, and supply chain teams. 
• Acts as the primary technical point of contact for system design, performance, and baseline integrity. 
• Leads system architecture definitions, requirements decomposition, interface control, and trade studies from concept through on-orbit or flight operations. 
• Manage major technical reviews (such as SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR) and ensures adherence to compliance standards, certification processes, spaceworthiness compliance, and test readiness 
• Orchestrates matrixed engineering teams (spanning avionics, propulsion, software, thermal, and mechanical subsystems) and aligns technical plans with program management.
• Identifies, assesses, and mitigates technical, schedule, and integration risks across the program lifecycle. 
•  Translates customer missions into executable technical baselines and presents complex concepts to executive leadership and government/commercial partners.
• Mentoring personnel in the program office and ETG
• Collaborating with SETA and government customer counterparts to meet mission needs

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Leader – Engineering Program Management and Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or other applicable degree
• 12 or more years of relevant engineering/technical/operational/integration/system fielding experience
• Experience with development and integration of DoD and/or IC space capabilities, missions, and/or programs in standard and/or rapid acquisition environments
• Experience with developmental/operational test of DoD and/or IC space capabilities
• Experience working with integrated Government, FFRDC, SETA teams and end state users
• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced & dynamic environment and to work complex problems without clear point solutions
• Demonstrated strong technical leadership, interpersonal, and team building skills
• Stellar verbal and written communication skills including the ability to engage and effectively communicate with senior leaders
• Experience supporting design reviews Failure Review Boards (FRB)s, Material Review Boards (MRB)s, evaluating engineering drawings, conducting risk assessments, and recommending paths forward
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 20% of the time
• This position requires working full time in a secure facility
• This position requires current TS/SCI and SAP/SAR eligibility, issued by the US government. US 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 technical engineering or science discipline
• 20+ year’s experience working end-to-end acquisition (across Enterprise, space, ground, and user segments) for National Security Space customers

• Experience balancing technical detail and broader programmatic perspectives

• Understanding of and experience working with a matrixed engineering organization.

• Demonstrated ability to function effectively, efficiently, and collaboratively with limited supervision
• Strong customer-oriented attitude with outstanding skills in coordinating exchanges between technical staff and the customer.

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)

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.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. 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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.