Offensive Cyberspace Warfare Senior Project Leader

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 Cyberspace Combat Department (CCD) within the Cyberspace Systems Security Subdivision (CS3) is at the forefront of defending our Nation's interests in, from, and to the space domain. Our team of leading cybersecurity professionals specializes in offensive and defensive cyber operations, space-focused cyber assessments, reverse engineering, and exploit development to ensure cyberspace superiority in support of space control operations. We integrate cutting-edge technologies with deep expertise in cyber warfare to deliver combat-credible capabilities that enable the Joint warfighter to achieve space superiority.

We are seeking an Offensive Cyberspace Warfare Senior Project Leader to lead critical offensive cyberspace warfare (CW) initiatives and projects within the CCD. This role directly supports military and intelligence community (IC) customers by developing and integrating CW capabilities that can produce effects on adversary space and counterspace systems. You will serve as the senior technical leader and integrator for offensive CW activities, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), operational preparation of the environment, and other CW missions. This position plays a vital role in the mission engineering and development of future combined arms counterspace operations that protect friendly space capabilities while denying adversaries the ability to exploit space to their advantage.

This is a full-time position based 100% onsite in Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead Offensive Cyberspace Warfare Programs: Serve as a project leader for CCD's offensive CW initiatives. Coordinate teams to develop, test, evaluate, and operationalize offensive CW.
• Support Space Superiority Mission Engineering and CONOPS Development: Integrate offensive CW capabilities with space control operations.
• Drive Customer Requirements Development: Lead requirements development for offensive CW capabilities supporting military and IC customers.
• Perform Vulnerability Research: Lead and conduct hands-on vulnerability research on embedded and highly specialized systems.
• Lead Operations Integration and Testing: Coordinate technical efforts across program/project lines to integrate offensive CW capabilities with space operations architectures, C2 systems, and Joint targeting processes. Lead operational testing, purple team exercises, and mission rehearsals that validate offensive CW tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for space control operations.
• Guide Prototype and Capability Development: Serve as principal technical representative to customers and industry partners, coordinating efforts on capability development projects. Monitor and assist in development of budgets and resource allocations to accomplish offensive CW capability development tasks.
• Develop and Mentor High-Performance Teams: Act as senior mentor to team members comprised of diversely skilled CW engineers, intelligence analysts, and systems engineers. Provide orientation, technical guidance, and development insight while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in offensive cyberspace operations.
• Exercise Mission Command and Deliver Results: Operate strategically as a senior technical authority and integration leader, engage with impact across government, IC, and industry partners, lead organizational change in offensive CW capability development, foster innovation in combined arms counterspace operations, and deliver measurable results.

What You Need to be Successful - Offensive Cyberspace Warfare Senior Project Leader

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• 10 or more years of relevant experience in offensive cyberspace operations, cybersecurity, systems engineering, software development, embedded systems, intelligence operations, or similar fields with demonstrated progression in technical leadership and project leadership.
• Proven leadership experience as a senior technical authority, project leader, or integration leader coordinating teams of technical contributors for offensive cyber operations, cyberspace ISR, and/or defense-oriented projects supporting national security space missions.
• In-depth understanding of offensive CW domains as they apply to space operations, including:
  • Cyberspace Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
  • Operational Preparation of the Environment (OPE)
  • Cyberspace attack missions and cyber exploit development
  • Defensive Cyberspace Operations - Response Actions (DCO-RA)
  • Integration of CW with Orbital Warfare (OW) and Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) for combined arms counterspace operations
  • Space control operations and counterspace targeting as defined in Joint Publication 3-14 (Space Operations) and the USSF Space Warfighting Framework
  • Joint and USSF cyberspace and space policy, doctrine, authorities, and operations
• Experience with cyber vulnerability research and embedded systems such as static code analysis, fuzzing, and emulation.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers, influence and coordinate across multi-disciplinary teams, operational units, IC partners, military staff, and senior stakeholders in a joint environment.
• Experience supporting mission-critical organizational goals related to national security, space operations, offensive cyber operations, and advanced CW in support of combatant commands (CCMD), operational forces, or Intelligence Community missions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead requirements development, capability integration, operational testing, evaluation, and transition efforts from prototype through operational deployment.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to work locations, customer sites, or operational facilities domestically up to approximately 20%.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a 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:

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with both defensive and offensive cyberspace operations in high-stakes, contested environments, particularly within DoD, Space Force, or IC space mission operations. 
• Proven track record in successfully managing large-scale cyber operations projects, space mission support initiatives, or similar high-impact programs supporting operational forces or CCMDs.
• Possession of advanced cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, OSCP, CEH) or specialized training in CW, threat intelligence, space systems security, or offensive/defensive cyber operations.
• Prior experience collaborating with USSF, DoD, USCYBERCOM, USSPACECOM, IC, or other national security agencies in support of space operations or space control missions.
• Familiarity with Space Force concepts, doctrine, mission command principles, and the integration of cyberspace operations as an enterprise function enabling space superiority.

• Former member of USCYBERCOM Cyber Mission Forces and experience with Joint targeting, operational planning, and integration of cyber effects with kinetic and non-kinetic effects.

• Current TS/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) clearances, which is issued by the U.S. government.

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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.