Senior Project Leader - Multi-domain C5ISR and Security Programs and Resources

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.

This Senior Project Leader position will support the Office of the Principal Staff Assistant and Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense on intelligence, counterintelligence, security, sensitive activities, and other intelligence-related matters. The successful candidate will provide direct technical and analytical support to senior and executive level government decision makers on space-based and multi-domain C5ISR and Security Programs and Resources, in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. This position will provide technical and analytical expertise to senior and executive level government customers on multiple platforms ranging multiple domains and must have both operational and tactical level employment experience and expertise, as well as multi-mission systems and architectural engineering capabilities combined with the ability to communicate these to executive level customers within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

Work Model

This position will be located 100% onsite at the Pentagon.

What You'll Be Doing

• Serves as the integration leader and/or coordinator of a team of technical contributors, which may include advanced or senior level technical/project specialists. 
• Provide technical support in the development of space and multi-domain related budget and policy position papers and official requests for information from the White House, Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Intelligence Community
• Direct support to the planning and implementation of space policy, acquisition, and requirements initiatives such as developing architectural alternatives, assessing system budget programmatics, rationalizing investment portfolios, and bringing to bear commercial space capabilities when directed
• Provide time-sensitive responses to senior executive questions on space-based intelligence collection systems and intelligence analysis supporting the space domain
• Support the development of decision memoranda related to intelligence and DoD space system efforts
• Provide a conduit for OUSD(I&S) senior and executive level leadership access additional Aerospace corporate technical expertise and analytic resources, in other areas of interest -- become the space-based and multi-domain C5ISR "front door" to The Aerospace Corporation and all the varied experts
• Supports space and multi-domain C5ISR policy development, the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process, Department of Defense and Intelligence Community requirements processes, and program acquisition oversight
• Acts as senior mentor to team members, providing orientation, technical guidance, and development insight. ​

What You Need to Be Successful – Senior Project Leader, Systems Engineering

Minimum Requirements

• A Minimum of 12 years of proven experience in both the operational employment and architectural design and system engineering of space and multi-domain C5ISR technologies and capabilities are required
• 12 years proven background in crafting and delivering executive level communications packages in the operational, architectural and systems engineering capabilities, limitations, design, analysis, and budget impacts related to space-based and multi-domain C5ISR systems employment, operations, and acquisition.
• 12 years of experience in direct government work within or in close proximity to the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the National Reconnaissance Office; the Services; the Joint Staff; and other government organizations in acquisition, requirements, and operations of the national security space enterprise.
• 12 years of experience with national security space and multi-domain C5ISR programs especially in the battlespace awareness mission areas of space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, space control, overhead persistent infrared, space-based environmental monitoring, space command and control, geospatial-intelligence tasking and analysis, signals intelligence tasking and analysis, and space domain awareness
• Minimum of 12 years of experience working with the policy, requirements, acquisition, and budgeting processes used to acquire national security space and multi-domain C5ISR programs.
• Proven capability to work effectively in an onsite environment with senior to executive level government leaders.
• 12 Years of proven and adept at executive level oral and written communication.
• This position requires a current or active TS/SSBI security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• 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, and contractors ​

How You Can Stand Out

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

• 20 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering and policy experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program oversight environment
• Experience working with Special Access programs
• 10 or more years of experience working directly with senior and executive level USSPACECOM, US Space Force, DoD and/or IC Space leadership and programs across all space-based collection and transmission platforms.
• 10 or more years of experience in Sensor-to-Shooter architectures and employment constructs
• 10 or more years of experience in space policy development and professional publications
• 20 or more years of experience in the staffing process used within the Department of Defense
• Proven prior experience dealing with the highest levels of senior leadership within the Department of Defense
• 10 or more years of previous experience in the Pentagon reservation

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.