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.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Sr. Space Vehicle Engineer (Senior Project Engineer) to work within an integrated program office of Air Force, Aerospace, SE&I, SETA, and contractors across the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) system. Candidate will apply systems engineering expertise to spacecraft systems development efforts across multiple systems architecture designs, ensuring acquisition efforts are aligned with systems capability needs and government acquisition practices.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as a senior advisor to the customer by formulating, evaluating, and coordinating strategies for space acquisition efforts to achieve architectural vision and technical objectives.
• Applying systems engineering principles ensuring synchronization of the government and contractors across all program elements.
• Delivering technical expertise to the government in the areas of satellite bus subsystems including electrical power, propulsion, attitude control, timing, space vehicle integration, and launch vehicle integration.
• Performing assessments of the space contractor’s ability to meet detailed requirements with their proposed satellite designs.
• Providing insight to Aerospace leadership and the customer on risks, issues, opportunities and associated mitigation strategies and corrective actions.
• Leading Aerospace Engineering & Technology Group (ETG) teammates to optimally respond to space systems engineering and acquisition related needs with the delivery of quality products, technical position papers, and briefings.
• Maintaining effective working relationships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG and other supporting contractors.

What You Need to be Successful -

Minimum Requirements Senior Project Engineer - Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering.

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution or a related STEM field.
• Twelve or more years of increasing responsibilities in professional engineering/scientific experience working across government programs (includes time acquiring applicable MS, MBA, and/or PhD).
• A track record of demonstrating space systems engineering skills including the ability to understand, explain, and present to the customer how specific issues are connected to the broader program.
• Experience with project leadership, including the ability to work independently and advise a team to solutions
• Exhibited ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel.
• Travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required.
• This position requires active Top Secret clearance with SCI access, which is issued by the US 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:

• Work with model-based systems engineering concepts and tools.
• Experience with mission assurance principles and practices.
• Familiarity with IEEE 15288.2 (IEEE Standard for Application of Systems Engineering on Defense Programs).
• Understanding of space system acquisition.
• Project management and leadership experience.
• MILSATCOM program office experience.
• Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with ETG.
• Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or related field.

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)

$151,300.00 - $226,900.00

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.