Sensitive Activities and Program Protection Engineer

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.

In this opportunity you will serve as a Sensitive Activities & Program Protection (Project Engineer /Senior Project Engineer- Technical Project Management) in the Enterprise Strategy and Business Planning department within the Systems Engineering & Launch Division.  You will be supporting the customer’s Office of Policy and Strategy (OP&S) at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).  OP&S is responsible for a broad range of space & intelligence policy and strategies including the community management of sensitive activities.

This position requires 100% on site work in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading & supporting technical reviews of sensitive space technologies and program protection strategies
• Supporting and leading technical reviews of new technology insertion & sensitive activity support
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder technical exchanges across government leadership, system operators, mission users and technical teams
• Conducting strategic technology and risk assessments across the DoD, IC, and Civil Space domains to inform senior-level decisions
• Collaborating across the enterprise with program office counterparts and mission partners to effectively engage Aerospace’s subject matter expertise

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer - Technical Project Management:

• Bachelor’s OR Master’s degree in a relevant engineering, mathematics, or science field
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in engineering, strategy, or technical field
• Familiarity with current and planned national security space and ground systems
• Experience with the U.S. space technologies and related policy issues
• Strong interest and enthusiasm for understanding global space domain mission and operations
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple simultaneous tasks and distributed teams
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, Senior Project Engineer - Technical Project Management requires the following:

• 12 years of experience in engineering, strategy, or technical field
• Highly motivated self-starter capable of both independent analysis and collaborating with teams
• Ability to analyze technical data, produce novel insights and conclusions, and effectively communicate the results
• Strong communication skills to be able to effectively coordinate exchanges between technical staff, government customers, and mission partners
• Experience in consensus building across a diverse set of stakeholders with varied objectives

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Familiarity with new and emerging space-based technologies
• Experience with and knowledge of IC & DoD mission partners
• Experience with sensitive activity management
• Demonstrated history of proactive engagement and the flexibility to work in a dynamic environment
• Experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making & communications artifacts for senior leaders

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)

$117,300.00 - $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.