Commercial Space Futures Office, Assistant Principal 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.

The Aerospace Corporation is committed to advancing and accelerating the application of U.S. commercial space capabilities in direct support of government customers through its Commercial Space Futures Office (CSFO). CSFO is an organization within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) which supports the U.S. space enterprise to maximize U.S. government access to and incorporation of commercial space capabilities and technologies.

The Commercial Space Futures Office (CSFO) faces three directions at once: internally, as a change agent influencing the Aerospace Corporation’s enterprise; externally, as direct and supplementary decision support to our National Security and Civil space agencies; and externally, as key influencers to the markets driving innovation in the space economy. CSFO actively engages in each direction simultaneously to help shape the future of our National space enterprise. As part of the CSFO team, the Commercial Space Futures - Assistant Principal Director (Assistant Principal Director-Technical Program Management Office) will co-pilot the maturation and growth of CSFO in supporting the National Space Enterprise’s evolution toward more agile, innovative architectures that mindfully leverage commercial and innovation base capabilities. In addition, the successful applicant will have a significant role supporting internal Aerospace organizations working within the commercial space area, and external US Government customers; while also seeking to partner with investors, companies, and market thought leaders for market research and demand signaling.

Work Model: This is a full-time position based in one of three locations: The Greater Washington, DC Metro Area; Colorado Springs, CO; or El Segundo, CA, with preference for either the greater Washington, DC Metro or Colorado Springs, CO. For this position, Aerospace offers a hybrid work model that combines a minimum of 4 regular onsite workdays with remote flexibility as the business needs allow. Domestic and international travel will be required up to 30% of the time.

What You Will Be Doing:

• With the Principal Director, Commercial Space Futures, you will co-pilot the development and execution of Aerospace’s Commercial Space Peloton, a cross-functional initiative to create actionable integration pathways for commercial and space innovation base capabilities for our DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil Space agencies.
• Develop, mature, and execute Aerospace multi-disciplined commercial space capability/service independent assessment process and products in support of DoD, IC and Civil US Government customers and clients as the industry standard for independent validation and verification (IV&V) methodology applicable to all space mission areas.
• With the Principal Director, Commercial Space Futures, and the Chief Technology Officer, support the curation and implementation of Aerospace’s corporate Commercial Space Strategy to create products and services that align with customer needs and corporate goals.
• Engage with key National Security Space and Civil space agency-level offices to understand and then satisfy needs related to commercial technology investment planning, commercial technology roadmapping, and integration planning for commercial and space innovation base capabilities; where necessary, resource dedicated support for these offices.
• Support the Principal Director’s interactions with Aerospace executive management regarding strategy, business results, and resources, to include management of the CSF Corporate Strategic Investment efforts, and both on and off-ceiling PTS management.
• Engage with commercial space providers, space and non-space technology experts and companies (including non-traditional applications) to assess their products, approaches, and technologies for integration into the space enterprise to outpace the threat, and meet ever changing requirements.
• Establish partner teams within Aerospace to resource necessary expertise to assess commercial technologies that have potential DoD space architecture applications and disseminate analysis across enterprise at a consistent cadence.
• Direct support to t