Systems Director - Strategic Assessments, Studies, and Projects (SASP)

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.

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

We are looking for an Systems Director- Engineering Program Management. This position falls under our Strategic Assessments, Studies, and Projects (SASP) division within CSG. This position will lead an organizationally- and geographically distributed team supporting programmatic assessments and strategic studies for customers at NASA HQ Mission Directorates, NASA Centers and other civil government organizations.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA., Pasadena, CA., or Crystal City, VA., offering a hybrid work model that combines 4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Help lead an organizationally- and geographically distributed team supporting programmatic assessments and strategic studies activities for customers at NASA HQ Mission Directorates, NASA Centers, and other civil government organizations
• Lead and direct comprehensive cost, schedule, affordability, and executability studies to inform NASA or other appropriate civil agency-level strategic decision-making on space flight missions, ground systems, and other infrastructure programs and projects
• Interact with government customers, develop task statements, and work scope, assemble technical teams to perform the work, manage and participate in work execution, and integrate analytical results into high quality final products
• Present study findings to all levels of the customer organization, from senior project managers and staff to senior leadership
• Work closely and coordinate with management and staff throughout CSG to optimally deploy resources within the Division, support hiring, and manage conflicts of interest
• Contribute to civil space business development efforts, coordinating with business developers within CSG and throughout Aerospace
• Provide vision and direction for enhancing existing and developing new programmatic modeling and analysis capabilities to efficiently provide programmatic support throughout the development lifecycle to better inform customers on the health of their programs
• Ensure customer satisfaction, meet financial performance goals and deliver extensive Division, Group, and corporate reporting
• Candidates should be able to effectively lead teams in a dynamic environment where requirements and schedules change quickly
• Travel will be required to meet with staff and interact with customers

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in engineering, science, or other applicable STEM areas
• 12 years or more of relevant experience in engineering and project management, with progressively increasing responsibilities including staffing, budgeting, and team building
• Program office and project leadership experience
• Experience in cost modeling and analysis, independent cost estimating, space systems engineering, risk assessment, and leading and executing technical programmatic and architecture-level studies
• Knowledge of NASA missions and technologies, civil programs development lifecycles
• Demonstrated experience in building engineering teams and leading projects to define and solve customer problems
• Strong, communication and interpersonal skills, as evidenced through recent interaction and presentations to customers