Director - Space Based Sensing and Targeting Mission Integration

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.

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.

The Space Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST) Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) is a fast-paced organization providing proliferated warfighting architectures on accelerated timelines. The SBST PAE portfolio includes multiple programs focused on collecting and delivering global surveillance to solve the highest priority warfighter issues. We are looking for a Director of Mission Integration that will lead the Aerospace Systems Engineering team through the acquisitions within the SBST portfolio. The Director will work directly with the SBST Chief Architect to establish practices for mission effectiveness and measures to evaluation end-to-end mission closure, as well as helping to connect and align customers and Aerospace across the space enterprise. This position provides leadership, planning, and warfighter engagement in support of the acquisition and development of SBST’s proliferated systems.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at one of our facilities in: Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leads Aerospace support to the Space Based Sensing and Tracking (SBST) Chief Engineer
• Engages daily with SBST senior leaders, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA personnel across all programs
• Establish teams to perform System-of-System architecting, digital engineering, verification criteria, requirements allocation and interface definition studies for total mission success
• Coordinates across Aerospace to advise on manufacturing, testing and operating proliferate systems in an agile acquisition
• Manages system engineering practices to devise strategies implementing new acquisition policy initiatives and measuring the effectiveness of implementation.
• Drives integration across SBST programs and stakeholder organizations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Systems Director - Systems Engineering - Acquisition and Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, math, computer science, physics, or other related discipline
• 12 or more years of experience in related engineering, technical, operational or system fielding experience
• Technical expertise in at least one area of Mission Integration (such as mission verification, end-to-end integration, digital engineering, MBSE, mission governance, proliferated manufacturing and test)
• Demonstrated success building cross-functional teams in acquisition or engineering organizations to deliver rapid, measurable impact
• Experience applying systems engineering in addressing complex problems
• Collaborated effectively within integrated teams comprising government personnel, FFRDC staff, and SETA contractors to achieve mission objectives
• 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
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Willing to travel domestically approximately 10-20% of the time (as required)
• This position requires an active TS/SCI 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:

• Master’s degree or PhD in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or other applicable degree
• At least 5 years of experience of management experience and/or team leadership experience
• Experience with Space Based Moving Target Indication and/or Proliferated Communication
• Experience with supporting enterprise (ground, communications, warfighter) organizations
• Experience with warfighter engagement
• Experience with development and integration of DoD and/or IC space capabilities, missions, and/or programs in standard and rapid acquisition environments
• Experience with development and integration of complex space systems
• Demonstrates enterprise-level perspective with prior Program Office(s) and ETG experience

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)

$168,200.00 - $252,400.00

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.

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.