Associate Director, Structures Department

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 Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The Structures Department within the Structural Mechanics Subdivision, Vehicle Systems Division, is seeking a Structures Department Associate Director (Associate Director – Aeronautical and Aerospace Structural Engineering) with a demonstrated record in leadership and a strong foundation in solid mechanics, practical experience in structural analysis, a passion for the space industry, and a desire to apply their expertise to help solve a variety of technical challenges facing national security space programs.   

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA., requiring at least 4 days onsite.

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Establish department objectives and goals, communicating them effectively to staff, management, and interfacing matrix organizations

• Participate with higher management in determining organizational structure, staffing needs, and resource allocation

• Participate in budget planning and allocation of resources; implement policies, practices, and operating processes

• Identify and assign functional responsibilities within sub-organizations; coordinate work activities and monitor workload, progress, and schedules to ensure completion within allocations and schedule guidelines

• Conduct staff performance reviews and recommend performance improvement, career development, salary, and promotion actions

• Promote a climate of continual learning and mentoring; serve as senior mentor for the development of early career staff by providing technical guidance and insights

• Communicate and coordinate frequently with customers to understand and identify critical needs, milestone schedules, and work progress

• Conduct work performance within customer standards and regulations; participate in day-to-day technical task planning and issue resolution as needed

• Seek and identify opportunities for additional, expanded, and new business; assist higher management in the evaluation and pursuit of new opportunities

• Develop new business connections and motivate technological innovations

• Review and approve technical work, documentation, and briefings intended for release to external customers

• Assess program risks and advise program offices and customers during certification, development, and/or operational phases of programs

• Maintain authoritative expertise in the development, analysis, and verification of space structures, with thorough knowledge of structural design criteria in combination with structural test methods

• Direct technical groups performing engineering design, analysis, and research and development activities related to structural mechanics

• Publish clarification, insight, and guidance on technical topics to assist industry in enhancing mission assurance practices or advancing the state-of-practice in structural verification and validation

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with a focus in structural and/or solid mechanics or a closely related field

• 10 years of applicable professional and educational experience

• Demonstrated 2+ years of people management skills, including hiring, mentoring, staff development, and administering performance reviews

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers  

• Strong technical le