Sentinel System Engineering & Integration Senior Project 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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, development planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including US Space Force, U.S Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. DSG also assists 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 Sentinel System Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Sr. Project Engineer in the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) SE&I branch with the Nuclear Operations Directorate (NOD) will support a development of the Sentinel ICBM for the Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center (AFNWC) Sentinel Program Office.  The AFNWC Sentinel Program Office is developing replacement for the Minuteman III ICBM.  The Sentinel SE&I Senior Project Engineer will actively participate in all phases of development with a focus of applying ICBM domain subject matter knowledge to develop Models-Based System Engineering (MBSE) tools and architectures and ensure system integration across nuclear command and control, communications, missile, facilities, specialized transportation vehicles, product support and multiple external agency interfaces to meet weapon system lifecycle requirements.  The candidate is expected to engage with senior leadership, government, government’s support contractors, and Aerospace’s Engineering and Technical Group to reducing technical risk and lifecycle cost for the program and guidance to other Aerospace entities.

Work Model  

This is a full-time position based in Hill AFB, Utah offering a hybrid work model that combines 4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Perform system integration activities across Sentinel program elements and external interfaces interchanging with government and contractor system and product development teams
• Provide mission assurance to the Sentinel program helping assure the Aerospace team is applying expertise to the appropriate aspects of the program and investigate urgent technical problems
• Use ICBM and MBSE modeling subject matter expertise to recommend courses of actions to develop and maintain the Sentinel Government Reference Architecture (GRA)
• Perform assessment of Sentinel program system integration and modeling activities and provide courses of action in recommendations
• Coordinate reach-back activities to the Aerospace Engineering Technical Group (ETG) workforce located at Hill AFB and located at other Aerospace locations as required
• Prepare technical reports and presentations to disseminate findings, guidance, and technical information and present technical and project status briefings to management and customers

What You Need to be Successful – Senior Project Engineer - System and Mission Assurance Engineering

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in a STEM field or related discipline
• A minimum of 10 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments
• Experience and expertise in perform large program system integration activities
• Experience and expertise in a Systems Architecture with the ability to apply that expertise to the development of large-scale weapon system CAMEO model
• Experience with UAF/SysML/ UPDM/UML MBSE frameworks
• Exhibits exceptionally high level of innovation, creativeness, and initiative
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers
• Widely recognized internally and externally by peers, management, program office, Air Force, and contractors
• Willing to travel [occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically/internationally] approx. 25%. 
• 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:

• Advance degree in in a STEM field or related discipline
• 12 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments
• Masters or Ph.D. degree from an accredited program in STEM field
• Understanding of ICBM life-cycle including development, deployment, operations, training, security, maintenance, logistics, and demilitarization
• ICBM system level subject matter expertise in areas such as NC3, targeting, operational reporting, maintenance operations and systems, deployment processes, and future capabilities
• Experience with ICBM external interfaces and stakeholder agencies
• Experience/familiarity with Nuclear Surety, System Safety, Nuclear Hardness & Survivability, ICBM Parts Materials and Processes, ICBM Testing, and Concept of Operations for ICBMs 
• Experience with application of Systems Engineering practices and principles in DoD Acquisition Programs
• Current Top-Secret clearance and willingness to maintain

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 diverse 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/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.