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, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape future space missions across the national security space enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including United States Space Force, United States Space Command, Air Force Material 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.
The Nuclear Operations Directorate has an immediate opening to support the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (NC3) Program Executive Officer and Integration Directorate (AFNWC/NC) on current and future NC3 architecture and systems.
Work Model
The position will be primarily located onsite at Aerospace Corporation in Crystal City, VA.
What You Will Be Doing
- Lead geographically diverse engineering team across a range of tasks providing System of Systems engineering expertise to OUSD (R&E) and AFNWC staff and leadership
- Provide front-line engagement to OUSD (R&E) and AFNWC leadership up to SES level
- Primary internal interface for reach-back to the Engineering Technical Group (ETG) workforce located in El Segundo, CA and at other Aerospace locations in support of OUSD (R&E) NC3 Architecture Development, threat analysis and technology advancement
- Apply systems engineering experience and discipline to the NC3 Enterprise
- Synchronize Aerospace Corp tasks with government, industry and FFRDC/UARC teams supporting OUSD (R&E) NC3 Enterprise Advancement initiatives
- Provide support to development, evaluation, and validation of system level requirements
- Build bridges across a diverse customer set to achieve enterprise integration and efficiency, i.e. AFNWC/NC, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), NC3 Enterprise Center
- Coordinate tasks and participate in technical interchange and working group meetings along with leading design review support to the AFNWC staff
- Present technical and project status briefings to management and customers
- Prepare technical reports and presentations to capture findings, and provide technical assessments and guidance to the customer
- Build proactive relationships as a liaison for The Aerospace Corporation to Air Force and contractor/FFRDC personnel supporting the NC3 enterprise
- This position requires approximately 20% travel; travel partially predicated on availability of secure voice/video communications at AGO
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited program in a STEM field.
- 10+ years of industry or DoD experience
- Experience in operational or technical disciplines relevant to Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (e.g., terrestrial, line-of-sight, and space-based communications systems)
- Digital Engineering fluency with a focus on Architecture development, Modeling & Simulation tools and environments for enterprise mission analysis
- Willing to travel domestically approximately 20%
- This position requires an Active Top Secret clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
- Current, or ability to obtain SAP accesses
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Masters or Ph.D. degree from an accredited program in STEM field
- Active Top Secret clearance and SCI access
- Experience in working with the government and FFRDC/UARCs
- Experience in working on enterprise architecture, modeling & simulation, cybersecurity, cryptographic technology, communications satellite systems
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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
Top Skills
What the Team is Saying
What We Do
The space enterprise has been transformed by rapid change and growth. New vehicles for national security space, a more rapid launch cadence, proliferated satellite constellations, the pursuit of interplanetary exploration, and thriving commercial ventures are changing the nature of the space industry. The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is a leading architect for U.S. space programs, shaping efforts to outpace threats to our national security while cultivating the technologies needed to further this new era of space commercialization and exploration.
Aerospace works across the space enterprise in service of the public interest. In addition to supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, our customers include NASA, NOAA, numerous federal agencies, and commercial space — all of whom benefit from our deep technical knowledge. We only pursue business related to the space mission and complementary fields, operating as the nation’s trusted partner to solve the toughest challenges and develop reliable and innovative technologies.
Innovation in space occurs when people have the freedom to imagine and do. At Aerospace, we take pride in our readiness to solve some of the most complex challenges in the space enterprise.
Why Work With Us
We are a non-profit corporation chartered by the government to work on the hardest problems in space. We employ technical experts in every discipline of space-related science and engineering who touch every part of the US space program. Come join us as we make an impact bigger than ourselves.
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The Aerospace Corporation Teams
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Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
