Systems Director - Space Development Agency Support

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.

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 Space Development Agency (SDA) was established in 2019 by the Department of Defense to define and monitor the Department’s future thread-driven space architecture and accelerate the development and fielding of new military space capabilities necessary to ensure our technological and military advantage in space for national defense. Aerospace support to SDA resides within the Agile Acquisition Division of the Defense Architectures and Integration office of the Defense Systems Group, which provides decision support at the enterprise level to senior Aerospace customers across the Department of War, as well as helping to connect and align customers and Aerospace across the space enterprise. This position provides leadership, planning, and direction of technical office staff and operations in support of the acquisition and development of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This role will assign resources, determine staffing needs, and coordinate activities and operations among SDA Cells, Tranches, and mission support areas, while coordinating across the Aerospace Enterprise with subject matter experts for support in defining processes and products, and prioritizing initial topic areas for ETG analysis, based on SDA requirements and emerging capabilities. We are looking for a Space Development Agency Systems Director (Systems Director – Systems Engineering – Acquisition).

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at one of the following facilities: Chantilly, VA; El Segundo, CA; Crystal City, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Hill AFB, UT; or Cape Canaveral, FL.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide strategic leadership and direction of technical office staff and operations in support of SDA mission areas, specifically for program enablers such as integration; battle management, command and control; cyber security; and threat assessments. Establish objectives and goals, set performance standards, and assess the sufficiency and quality of the team’s services to SDA. Lead in accordance with the Aerospace Leadership Competency Model (LCM): Operates Strategically, Engages with Impact, Leads Change, Fosters Innovation, Deliver Results. Act as a senior technical mentor to team members.
• Engage daily with SDA senior leaders, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA personnel across all program Cells, mission areas, and Tranches in the acquisition and development of the PWSA. Communicate frequently with the SDA customer to coordinate and report work progress, issues, and results and ensure rapid and efficient resolution to needs.
• Manage systems engineering support for SDA programs. Oversee technical aspects including systems options, performance tradeoffs, requirements flow down, interface analysis, test procedures, and monitoring of contractor performance. Direct technical groups performing engineering design, analysis or other research and development activities within project schedule and cost guidelines. Additionally, serve in a technical leadership role within an SDA cell.
• Manage organizational resources, operations, and personnel including budget planning, resource allocation, and determining team structure and staffing needs. Coordinate work activities and monitor progress to ensure completion within cost and schedule guidelines. Conduct staff performance reviews and recommend career development actions.
• Support the transition of SDA mission areas to the new Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) structure, specifically Missile Warning / Missile Tracking and Space-Based Sensing and Tracking portfolios. Build bridges to other efforts across Aerospace in these domain areas and facilitate integration across the evolving organizational structure.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements Systems Director – Systems Engineering – Acquisition :

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program in engineering, math, computer science, physics, or other related discipline
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible and related engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a managerial / leadership role
• Extensive knowledge of Space Development Agency’s rapid acquisition practices and architecture
• Experience working with the Space Development Agency’s leadership team
• Technical expertise in at least one area of support to the Space Development Agency (such as tracking, launch, warfighter integration, ground systems, integration, battle management command and control, cyber security, or threat assessments)
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, government customers, and other Aerospace staff across the program office and ETG corporate landscape
• Demonstrated agility and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced customer environment with a high degree of uncertainty
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead cross-functional high-performance teams to meet customer needs
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes utilizing objective facts and technical analysis
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizing complex materials and concepts in a manner that is clear and logical
• Understanding of the Aerospace role and the guidelines for appropriate use of an FFRDC
• Candidate must be willing to travel domestically approximately 10-20% of the time
• Current and active TS/SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. US 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:

• An advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in science, engineering, mathematics, or other relevant subjects from an accredited institution
• At least 5 years of management experience and/or team leadership experience
• Direct experience with SDA Tranches and Cells, including deep knowledge of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)
• Experience with supporting a space-related program office and facilitating reach back to obtain and coordinate technical support from the Aerospace Engineering & Technology Group and other Aerospace Program Offices
• Experience with mentoring and developing technical staff and junior leaders
• Multidisciplinary experience in multiple engineering and science disciplines, such as research and development, space and ground systems acquisition, systems engineering and systems integration
• Experience in Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense (MWTD) space vehicle development and test, and in space-to-ground system integration
• Experience working with FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA organizations
• Demonstrates enterprise-level perspective with prior Program Office(s) and ETG experience

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)

$168,200.00 - $252,400.00

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.