Senior Cyber/EW Tech Advisor

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 Material 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 Aerospace Corporation is seeking an exceptional professional to provide technical advice in integrating across cyber, electronic warfare (EW) and radio-frequency (RF) domains as a Senior Cyber/EW Tech Advisor.   The Cyber-Electronic Warfare Senior Tech Advisor will translate operational problems into engineered solutions, advise senior Department of War leadership on multi-domain threats and mitigations, and coordinate cross-discipline development, test, and fielding activities.  The role requires strategic judgment, technical credibility with engineering teams and the ability to represent Aerospace in interagency and industry engagements as needed.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility in Crystal City VA, with the ability to work in the Pentagon as required.   

What You’ll Be Doing

• Integrate cyber, EW and RF considerations into mission engineering, capability development, and operational concepts
• Translate operational requirements into technical objectives, test plans, and acquisition inputs
• Assess and characterize threats that combine cyber and RF/EW vectors; identify mitigation strategies and capabilities gaps
• Develop a Science & Technology (S&T) Roadmap that identifies the right Cyber/EW technology development efforts to pursue and that provides the programmatic structure necessary to successfully transition these development efforts to operational use
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, acquisition, intelligence, policy) to accelerate prototype development and fielding
• Develop CONOPS, and evaluation criteria for multi-domain effects and both offensive and defensive measures
• Advise senior DoW leadership through concise, decision-ready briefings and technical assessments
• Represent The Aerospace Corporation and OUSW(R&E) in interagency, Service and industry forums; support outreach and collaboration with partners as needed
• Documents decisions, risks and lessons learned to inform future capability development

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer - Multi-Disciplinary Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, math, physics, Information Systems, or a related technical field, or educational equivalency
• 12 or more years of progressively demonstrated engineering 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.
• RF/EW coursework or formal training demonstrating foundational RF/EW knowledge
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent verbal communication skills - clear, concise, persuasive; builds consensus through speaking; polished, professional style with the ability to brief technical topics to non-technical audiences
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and able to work independently and in cross-functional teams
• Experience supporting and/or leading technical study teams examining topics of national significance.
• 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.  Position also requires the ability to be granted and maintain accesses to Special Access Programs
• Ability and willingness to travel [occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally] approximately 10% of the time

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have several of these characteristics:

• Post graduate degree in applicable STEM areas or 15 years of applicable experience
• Experience in cybersecurity, network security, or offensive/defensive cyber operations
• Experience working with RF systems, wireless communications or electronic warfare concepts
• Demonstrated understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum and its role in information operations
• Proven technical skills in RF chains, link budgets, modulation schemas, frequency bands, propagation, antennas, signal characteristics, and signal processing
• Experience with network security, TCP/IP, network architecture, intrusion detection, vulnerability assessment
• Experience in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and exploitation development
• Experience in malware analysis
• 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
• Understanding and potential experience in the operational use of space systems for DoD missions
• Experience working in the Pentagon reservation
• Previous experience in the Pentagon
• In-depth knowledge of roles played by Department of War, to include the Office of the Secretary of War, Research and Engineering, Acquisition and Sustainment, National Security Agency, US Cyber Command, the military Services and other government organizations in development and operations of the national security space enterprise.

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.