Architecture Concepts Associate Director

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.

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space-enabled mission effects. 

ArCon provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Space Security (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others.  ArCon staff participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains.  ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions. 

Work Model 

This position will follow an in-person work model with a minimum of 4 days per week of onsite work required at one of Aerospace’s campuses in Chantilly, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, or El Segundo, CA. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Assist the Director in managing the Space Architecture Department, serving as the responsible day-to-day manager for Department staff working at diverse locations on disparate problems; conducting staff performance reviews and performing other personnel management functions; managing team resources and needs; and recommending performance improvement, career development, personnel actions, and awards 

• Serve as a focal point for program office inquiries for new tasking, utilizing system architecting problem framing principles to help program offices to define the problem space, create implementation plans, and identify appropriate personnel to perform the work based on your knowledge of resources and expertise across the company 

• Build and mentor staff, serving as a role model and advisor to an exceptionally talented and highly motivated cadre of architects, analysts, and modelers and hiring summer interns, early career, and/or experienced staff as needed to meet emerging demand for Department expertise 

• Direct technical activities, organize project teams, and execute independently or via teams a variety of architecture conceptualization, assessment, and modeling activities and provide decision support expertise to Aerospace program offices as a technical subject matter expert and project leader 

• Help to steer and implement strategy for the Department and Subdivision, and seek,