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.

Do you have passion and experience for helping senior leaders make better data driven decisions to improve acquisition outcomes? Do you like solving multiple problems and exploring novel ideas? Do you enjoy driving analysis/analytical products that influence decision makers on strategic national security challenges and draw engagement/visibility from senior stakeholders, including the White House, Congress, the US Department of War (DoW), and Intelligence Community?  Do you want to lead a highly motivated and capable team that plays an increasingly particularly pivotal role at a time of unprecedented change in the Space enterprise? If so, join our team of Space acquisition and analysis experts at Aerospace.

In an era of dynamic change in space, Aerospace is addressing a once in a generation set of complex challenges as the Space ecosystem undergoes rapid and unprecedented evolution. The Aerospace Corporation operates the only federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) committed exclusively to the space enterprise. Our technical experts span every discipline of space-related science and engineering. Join our team and thrive in a career that matters to the world and to you personally. The Acquisition Planning and Decision Analytics (APDA) department delivers acquisition and systems engineering expertise and data-driven capability enablers to improve decision making to enable effective acquisition planning and deliver successful acquisition outcomes. We enable decision makers to understand and navigate an increasingly dynamic, complex and evolving Space ecosystem while preserving options and driving down risk to ensure mission success.

Aerospace invites highly qualified candidates to apply to be the APDA NGSO center of excellence Capability Area lead in support of our warfighters. This position requires a dynamic and collaborative leader with a demonstrated record of successfully providing technical leadership in a large, matrixed engineering organization with considerable expertise in the business and systems engineering activities associated with system acquisition, deployment, and sustainment to program offices across the acquisition spectrum including traditional and non-traditional contract structures, traditional and new-entrant suppliers as applied to Department of War operational missions and support. The department is geographically dispersed with the majority of personnel centered in Northern Virginia or Southern California. The position can be executed out of any of Aerospace’s facilities.

What You’ll Be Doing

Work across Aerospace to develop solutions that enable enterprise mission success, deliver technical excellence, people excellence, and operational excellence with an emphasis on successfully delivering space capabilities to warfighters to close critical operational mission gaps quickly and agilely.

Perform & lead technical or analysis tasks, including hands on development, development of roadmaps and strategies to close technical gaps to integrate commercial and traditional space capabilities, assessments of commercial offerings and plans to accelerate delivery of capability to warfighters while balancing competing priorities and navigating policy, political, budget and cost constraints.

Advise senior customers and stakeholders on successful planning and risk mitigation to enable successful and timely deployment of integrated space capabilities to meet operational needs.

Work across organizational boundaries and interface with senior Program Office personnel, customers, stakeholders, associate contractors and corporate management.

Develop, collaborate, and maintain relationships with program offices across Aerospace and external stakeholders.

Actively engage with and contribute to the professional community of interest by leading and organizing events such as conference, seminars, and industry forums across the enterprise to enable partnerships and shape emerging NGSO capabilities in the commercial sector to enable warfighter outcomes.

Act as a mentor, providing technical advice/guidance to junior staff and customers.

Lead and host educational workshops, information sharing sessions, and training programs to promote knowledge sharing.

Establish and maintain a knowledge base, lessons learned, and trusted relationships to further the NGSO enterprise across the stakeholder community.

Work with subdivision leaders to deliver subdivision goals and capability development

What You Need to be Successful

Advanced degree in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, business, finance, or related technical or analytics discipline; or a master’s degree in engineering with exposure to business, market research, finance, or investment banking

Minimum of 12 years of relevant space-related acquisition or analysis experience.

Previous experience leading distributed, highly technical project teams.

Consistent track record of establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal and working relationships with different levels of corporate staff, peers, management, program offices, customers, partners, stakeholders and contractors.

Excellent communications skills, both written and oral

Deep understanding of Department of War priorities, missions, and operational Space based needs and acquisition processes

A commitment to a respectful environment that fosters excellence, commitment to mission, collaboration, and opportunity

Broad understanding and demonstrated experience in systems acquisition, systems engineering, systems integration, commercial space markets and investment analysis

A proven track record of building partnerships, modeling collaboration across organizations, and facilitating effective exchanges with a wide variety of stakeholders to influence and make critical decisions

A demonstrated appreciation for the FFRDC mission and role

A systems-thinking approach and proven experience of forming and leading high performing teams.

Ability to lead in a fast-paced, dynamic environment during a time of significant change while setting clear technical vision for the team

Able to travel domestically up to 20%.

This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI 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:

Minimum of 15 years of applicable experience working space-related engineering and/or investment analysis, commercial acquisition risks, working with startups, or defense and national security space industry stakeholders, or commercial satellite service providers

Experience working with customer-facing organizations across a wide variety of DoW, IC and Civil programs

Expertise in Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) or NGSO communications.

Proven ability to successfully engage with senior executives and external audiences

Fluency with acquisition analysis best practices.

Demonstrated hands on experience delivering high quality technical, business, and cost assessments.

Experience working in a program office setting, managing matrix support, and developing statements of work.

Recognition as a subject matter expert with publications, presentations, or contributions to the broader community of practice

Experience in a commercial space or satellite service organization, especially related to business development, market research, or raising capital financing

Deep knowledge of US Government acquisition processes and methods

Deep understanding of the space industrial base

Familiarity with Aerospace Corporation’s customers and working in a classified environment

Fluency in how DoW decision making occurs inside and outside of headquarters that affects policy, planning, and funding

Understanding of different US Government agency budgeting, planning, and execution processes

Experience with Space Communications, Digital Engineering, MBSE, data science, or AI/ML

Current DoW TS and SSBI/SCI Clearance

Leadership Competencies

Operates Strategically

Demonstrates ability to develop a vision and execute strategies

Anticipates and generates solutions a head of need

Pivots with agility when circumstances change

Engages with Impact

Effectively communications with purpose, clarity, and authenticity

Builds trust, inspires others, and develops top talent for growth and leadership succession

Collaborates to generate optimal enterprise solutions

Leads Change

Motivates people to thrive in the face of uncertainty

Effectively navigates with multiple stakeholders whose interest are not always aligned

Fosters Innovation

Creates an environment where it is safe to challenge the status quo, experiment, and take risks

Delivers Results

Makes decisions with an enterprise mindset that considers operational and financial factors

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)

$155,900.00 - $233,900.00
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.

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