Systems Director - Office of Secretary of War (OSW)

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 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 Pentagon and Multi-Domain Division provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders at the highest levels of government on space architectures, policy and strategy, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise.

As a Systems Director in the Office of Secretary of War (OSW) Support subdivision, you will lead a diverse organization providing deep technical expertise and analysis-based decision support to senior leaders within the Pentagon’s Office of the Secretary of War. The successful candidate will provides leadership, planning, and direction of technical office staff and operations. Assigns resources, determines staffing needs, and coordinates activities and operations among subordinate units. Communicates and coordinates activities to counterpart organizations, management, and customers in following organizations within OSW:

• Office of the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security. (OUSW(I&S))
• OSW Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)
• Department of War Chief Information Officer (DoW/CIO)
• Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E))
• Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S))

Do you want to do work that literally impacts the Nation and makes a positive difference? This is the opportunity!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide direct support to senior-level Department of War customers, staff, and Aerospace management, to identify and fulfill customer needs, consistent with the Aerospace FFRDC role
• Translate customer’s needs and direction into actionable support for Aerospace’s Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) and other key resources.
• Find, create, lead, mentor, and manage a diverse, interdisciplinary team of technical professionals within the Aerospace backplane, to include ETG and other program offices
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of technical analyses, simulation models, threat assessments, etc within the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW)
• Participates with Aerospace higher management in determining organization’s structure and staff and supports resource needs. Participates in budget planning and allocation of resources. Implements policies, practices, and operating processes and recommends improvements to higher management. Reports organization’s activities, progress and achievements through written and oral reports to management, subordinates, and customers.
• Identifies and assigns sub-organization and staff functional responsibilities. Assigns and coordinates work activities within organization; monitors workload, work progress and schedules, ensures completion of organization’s work assignments within cost and schedule guidelines
• Communicates frequently with OSW customer to coordinate and report work progress, issues, and results

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Crystal City, Arlington, VA, which will require presence in the Pentagon or Pentagon Reservation, as needed. On site at the Aerospace facility in Chantilly VA will be considered.

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements – Systems Director – Office of Secretary of War :

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or equivalent is required

• 12 or more years of progressively demonstrated engineering and policy experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering in a program oversight environment.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including team building/leadership, conflict resolution, staffing and customer relationship building.
• Broad technical and some specific technical expertise relevant to Aerospace OSW customers.
• Experience supporting and/or leading technical study teams examining topics of national significance.
• Proven ability to work effectively with senior government customers (flag or SES level) from diverse organizations.
• Proven ability to network with contractors, other government agencies, the various Aerospace program offices, and ETG to address issues and provide the customer with the best available technical and programmatic analyses
• Excellent written communication skills - organize complex materials and concepts in clear and logical manner.
• Excellent verbal communication skills - clear, concise, persuasive; builds consensus through speaking; polished, professional style.
• This position requires an active Top Secret/SSBI security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Ability to travel as required

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced technical and/or business degree
• Previous Aerospace Corporation experience
• Previous experience working with The Aerospace Corporation backplane and the various facets of ETG  
• Previous experience in the Pentagon
• In-depth knowledge of roles played by the Office of the Secretary of War; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the National Reconnaissance Office; the Services; the Joint Staff; the military Services (especially the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Space Force) and other government organizations in development and operations of the national security enterprise.
• Experience in the operational use of space systems for DoD missions.
• Familiarity with national security system procurement processes, including the Defense Acquisition System (DAS); Programming, Planning, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE); and the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS).  
• Experience supporting development and/or implementation of national space policy.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial success cultivating and establishing new customer relationships and meaningful associated work.
• Applicable SAP/SAR accesses.

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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.