Sr. Space Systems Modeling 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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

Within NSG, the Systems Engineering and Launch Division (SELD) serves as the systems engineering experts to drive excellence into architecture, engineering, and analysis functions. The Enterprise Analysis department provides modeling, simulation, and analysis expertise across space and ground system domains within our Program Office to ensure studies and analysis used to support major systems acquisitions and concept of operations development are properly scoped and executed and that results communicate valuable insights to customers across the organization and beyond. We are looking for a Space Systems Modeling & Simulation Specialist (Senior Project Leader - Modeling & Simulation Engineering) to represent our organization’s senior enterprise analyst and lead integration and collaboration between the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) analytic organizations. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical advisor for the IC to advise on the types of IC space systems models required for collaboration and ensure that the IC’s capabilities are accurately represented in DoW modeling & simulation efforts. You will be our office’s technical representative embedded with Department of War analytic organizations (e.g., CAPE, SAF/SA, JCS/J8) while leading coordination with Engineering Technology Group (ETG) teams and customer Directorates to provide novel space-system models at various levels of fidelity, ranging from mission and engagement to campaign models.

This is a high visibility position with exposure to and interaction with Government senior leaders in IC and DoW communities. You will be collaborating with headquarter organizations that are modeling current and future integrated systems and operations to drive important investments and key budget decisions. This a ~2-year rotational growth position, with a high probability of follow-on technical leadership assignment that takes advantage of the significant experience gained.

This is a full-time position that requires 100% onsite work, nominally split 60% in Chantilly, Virginia and 40% at the Pentagon.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Act as the IC spokesperson and broker collaboration and data sharing between IC and DoW headquarters modeling organizations
• Serve as a senior modeling and simulation subject matter expert focused on appropriate inclusion of GEOINT, SIGINT, communications space and related ground systems into DoW models
• Providing direct advisory support to DoW modelers regarding modeling & simulation tradecraft, input data suitability, assumptions applications, system parameter utilization, output, and representation of results for satellite and related ground systems studies and analysis
• Leveraging Aerospace NSG, DSG and ETG partnerships and coordinating as the integration lead for Government Program Offices and their support contractors
• Direct ETG specialized analysis when needed to validate aspects of DoW models
• Present technical results and recommendations to senior-level Government Customers and the Aerospace program office team
• Provide insight to Aerospace leadership on support opportunities across the interfaced organizations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Space Systems Modeling & Simulation Specialist (Senior Project Leader - Modeling & Simulation Engineering)

• Bachelor’s OR Master’s degree in STEM field or relevant discipline
• At least 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary modeling and simulation experience
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers
• Knowledge of modeling and simulation principles and methodologies applicable to space systems
• Familiarity with software tools that can be used to assess performance satellite systems (STK, SOAP, Matlab, Python, AFSIM, etc)
• This position requires a TS/SBI/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Experience leading teams to conduct architecture-level modeling and simulation studies
• Experience representing your team in a program office or customer environment

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• An advanced degree in a STEM field
• Technical knowledge of satellite systems
• Modeling and simulation experience on satellite systems from engineering to campaign levels
• Familiarity with GEOINT, SIGINT, COMM and/or related Ground systems
• Experience and proficiency briefing complex technical concepts to senior-level managers
• A TS/SBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

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.