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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities.

As part of the Enterprise Design Subdivision (EDS), the Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department (VGCD) drives responsive and comprehensive space vehicle and ground system preliminary/conceptual design, trades, and evaluation. Working closely with corporate program offices, VGCD delivers integration leadership and capabilities for conceptual design activities across the space enterprise. The department serves US Space Force, Intelligence Community, NASA, NOAA, and commercial/international customers. The Associate Director of the Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department will work with the Director to lead these efforts, build partnerships with customers, and ensure the team is staffed with top talent to solve complex challenges.

Work Model:

This full-time position requires 100% onsite work in El Segundo CA.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Assist the Director in developing the vision and direction for the department to execute and enhance corporate capabilities that responsively inform our customers’ space and ground acquisitions and architectures.
Drive new technology adoption (e.g., generative and agentic AI) and adapt these to enhance systems engineering workflows.

Identify new partnerships for growth in customer impact.

Ensure Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department and related corporate activities fully leverage expertise from across Aerospace, incorporating best practices in enterprise systems engineering.

Manage direct reports, including staff performance reviews, resource allocation, and personnel management, and recommend performance improvements, career development, personnel actions, and awards. Staff are currently located in Chantilly, VA; Albuquerque, NM; Colorado Springs, CO; and El Segundo, CA.

Serve as a primary contact for program office inquiries, frame problems, develop implementation plans, and identify appropriate personnel based on expertise.

Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, maintain robust relationships with peer organizations, and lead multi-discipline design teams.

Coordinate and manage complex technical tasks among customers, ensuring quality and accuracy of work products.

Recruit, onboard, and develop staff through performance management, mentoring, and coaching.

Collaborate with subdivision leadership to cultivate an effective national organization

Lead technical activities, organize project teams, and execute a variety of conceptual design, evaluation, and analysis activities.

What You Need to be a Successful Associate Director, Vehicle and Ground Concepts Department.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and equivalent technical experience

Typically 10 or more years demonstrated experience leading engineering studies and analysis teams, managing/coordinating complex technical tasks among team members, and translating customer needs into actionable tasks for engineers

Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams involving system design, acquisition and/or operations in one or more of the following areas: space systems, ground systems, launch systems, or operations

Experience in hiring, supervising, mentoring, and inspiring staff

Proven ability to initiate and lead project teams, develop project plans, identify high-impact deliverables, and manage schedule commitments

Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to lead cross-functional teams

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present methods and results effectively

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt quickly to change, manage ambiguity, and demonstrate initiative under pressure

Ability to travel approximately 15-25% of the time

This position requires a current and active TS/SCI clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, and the ability to pass a CI Polygraph. 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:

A graduate degree or extensive work experience in relevant fields

Experience with concurrent engineering, spacecraft design, ground system design, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), digital engineering, and/or enterprise systems engineering/architecting

Experience with generative and/or agentic AI technologies

A reputation for expanding the knowledge and/or application of the concurrent engineering design discipline, literature, tools, and processes

Prior experience with related Aerospace architecting and design capabilities (CDC, PDST, MBSE, Digital Engineering), or similar experience at another company

Experience leveraging or integrating commercial capabilities/services into space mission architectures

Experience collaborating with multiple Aerospace program offices and customers

Strong interpersonal networks within Aerospace and customer organizations

Strong connections and working experience with the National Security Space Community

Experience with or supporting the acquisition of spacecraft, payloads, ground systems, launch systems, missile systems, nuclear weapon systems, and/or aircraft systems

A proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, customers, and corporate staff

Experience leading or managing a geographically distributed team, including remote employees
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.

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