Satellite Lead Engineer, Space Projects

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) serves as the technical and programmatic advisor to the United States Space Force's (USSF’s) Space Systems Command (SSC) [formerly Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC)] for acquiring, developing, and fielding capabilities for the United States Space Command and joint warfighter as well as to maintain America’s comprehensive military advantage in space.  

As a Sr. Project Engineer/Project Engineer - Engineering Program Management for Prototype Enabling Space Vehicles, you’ll primarily work on the Rapid On-Orbit Space Test Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER) Space Vehicle, as well as the Tetra family of Space Vehicle teams. You will be assigned to the Space Projects Section of the Developmental Prototypes and Projects Department. You will provide technical leadership to multiple Space Systems Center Special Programs (SSC/SZ) Materiel Leaders. In less than 3 years the person accepting this position will experience all phases of the space vehicle procure, design, build, test, launch, operate, transfer, and retire life cycle and have the opportunity to work with stakeholders across the national security space enterprise.

Work Model

This position calls for minimum of 4 days of on El Segundo Campus in-office work and potential for 1 day of teleworking at management discretion.

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Provide technical leadership across a diverse team of Engineering Technology Group (ETG in-house engineering matrix staff) to drive the rapid procurement, build, payload integration, space vehicle mission assurance, do no harm assessments, launch and early operations of to be launched ROOSTER and Tetra Space Vehicles. The Tetra space vehicle can host multiple prototype payloads and ROOSTER can host numerous different payloads or space vehicles.
• Advise USSF-43, USSF-112 and USSF-70 launch senior steering group members on ROOSTER-4 and ROOSTER-5+, Tetra 3, Tetra 4, Tetra 5, Tetra 6 space vehicles.
• Conduct do no harm assessments to the integrated payload stack, anticipate first launch no earlier than Jan 2026.
• Provide technical guidance for the requirements and strategy for the Enterprise Fleet Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Acquisition Strategy.
• Plan, organize, tailor, and lead agile mission assurance activities to appropriately balance risk tolerance and speed associated with rapid prototype hosted payloads.  
• Organize technical team, assess, and provide root cause analysis for potential in factory or on orbit anomalies.
• Responsible for systems integration, interfaces of payloads, ground infrastructure and associated sponsoring customers and prime contractors’ integration with the primary mission.
• As Aerospace representative in a customer or contractor environment, provide nondirective advice, accept action items, and may coordinate pertinent budgets, tasks, priorities. In systems engineering assignments generally leads/coordinates team comprised of diversly skilled engineers servicing a major portion of a larger project or working across multiple projects.

What You Need to be Successful - Project Engineer, Engineering Program Management

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant Engineering, Math, or Science subject area
• At least 6 years of progressively more responsible related experience in engineering, computer science, network management, cyber security, or technology development. 
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and ability to work with government customers.
• Familiarity with Space Systems Engineering and Integration.
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI securit