Identity & Access Management (IAM) Director

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 Identity & Access Management (IAM) Director manages a team of IAM professionals, responsible for architecting, integrating, and administering our IAM infrastructure across the enterprise. IAM is critical to the mission success at Aerospace, and this role will require engagement across all business units to gather requirements and proactively implement solutions to provide secure but seamless IAM services. This role will report to the Deputy CIO/General Manager of the Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) Division under the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).

 

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

 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and execute an enterprise IAM roadmap aligned with strategic initiatives and business requirements, including rationalization and lifecycle management of IAM services such as Microsoft Entra (IdP and Connect), Keycloak, core provisioning tools, Radiant FID, PKI services, and external account management solutions.
• Oversee delivery of IAM projects, services, and infrastructure across the enterprise, ensuring that services are mature, properly staffed, documented, monitored, and road mapped.
• Lead efforts to modernize and consolidate IAM capabilities, including migration from legacy or obsolete tools to strategic platforms (e.g., shifting internal SSO and external account management to Microsoft Entra/M365, decommissioning virtual directory and other legacy components where appropriate).
• Collaborate with IT, Cybersecurity, Device Management, and other infrastructure teams to clarify ownership and accountability for key IAM-related services, including Active Directory, PKI, endpoint privilege management, and email security, and to automate or transition appropriate operational tasks to lower-tier support teams.
• Drive standardization of IAM services and processes across networks (e.g., Aeronet, ASEnet, CoSeWAN), including user provisioning, privileged access management, and external collaboration (B2B) support.
• Develop and maintain consistent IAM processes for specialized populations (e.g., AF Cadets, SkillBridge participants, other Military/Government accounts), ensuring that account approval and provisioning follow a Zero Trust model.
• Engage with external partners to ensure Aerospace is securely collaborating using approved technologies and modern authentication standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of IAM engineers and analysts; promote best practices in automation, scripting, and integration across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Benchmark and partner with external organizations (FFRDCs, UARCs, Military, Industry, Government, Law Enforcement) to ensure Aerospace IAM strategy and deliverables are compliant, effective, and user friendly.

 

What You Need to be Successful – Identity & Access Management (IAM) Director

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, computer engineering, artificial intelligence, or equivalent field of study, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of IT/Security experience with at least 6+ years working directly with IAM technologies.
• Hands-on experience and deep understanding of core IAM technologies including but not limited to identity provisioning, Public Key Infrastructure, multi-factor authentication, federated identity services, and directory services.
• Previous experience designing and implementing enterprise IAM projects such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Active Directory, and Zero Trust (ZT) solutions.
• Extensive experience with cloud/on-premises IAM, cyber and general IT infrastructure, including system automation programming and scripting.
• Experience managing or integrating with enterprise platforms such as Microsoft Entra, Active Directory, PKI services, and cloud collaboration solutions (e.g., M365).
• This position requires 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:

• Expertise in IAM standards such as LDAP, SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, FIDO2, SCIM, SQL.
• Working knowledge of NIST SP 800-171, NIST SP 800-53, and FedRAMP authorization.
• Proven experience with cloud IAM solutions, Artificial Intelligence–enabled access controls, Business-to-Business integrations, contextual authentication, and integration with external business partners.
• Demonstrated success consolidating or modernizing IAM platforms and services, including decommissioning legacy tools and standardizing IAM operations across multiple networks or environments.
• Master’s degree from an accredited program in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, computer engineering, artificial intelligence, or equivalent field of study, or equivalent experience.
• Active security clearance 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)

$165,100.00 - $247,600.00

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.