System Director, Commercial Space Analysis and Integration

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 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 System Director, Commercial Space Futures Strategy & Analysis, will build high-functioning hybrid teams comprising both direct-reporting and matrixed Aerospace technical and financial subject matter experts. The System Director will lead in-depth technical and market analysis, and foresighting of the Space Innovation Base (SIB). This leader will develop and create analysis products that lead space agency needs with data-driven conclusions on the current and projected state of SIB sectors, including recommended impact points that could change the trajectory of technology or markets for the benefit of our government space agencies and the wider space economy.  With insight into high-level national security and Civil space roadmaps, and the opportunity to engage with innovative companies, influential investors, and government policy makers, you'll have the chance to make a significant impact influencing informed investments in the space industry and the US national space ecosystem. 

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in one of three locations: El Segundo, CA; the Greater Washington, DC Metro Area; or Colorado Springs, CO. For this position, Aerospace offers a hybrid work model that combines a minimum of 3 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’ll Be Doing

As the Director for CSF Strategy & Analysis (S&A), you will lead the establishment and maturation of a function to produce objective, independent, data-driven commercial assessments of integrated technical, market, and business factors to support customer strategic and programmatic decision-making, and to support market signaling in the public interest. You’ll also be developing partnerships with and engaging with innovative companies and their investors, as well as partner organizations to accumulate insight and collaborate on market research. You will:

• Develop an independent commercial analysis playbook to establish a repeatable, data-driven, objective, and OCI-free process for assessing and foresighting emerging commercial and innovation base markets, technologies, and business landscapes

• Lead multidisciplinary teams of senior-level subject matter experts to produce and validate through market and customer engagement an initial set of products focused on a prioritized list of subjects

• Evaluate government technology and capability roadmaps to prioritize research areas to plan and execute analysis efforts that will provide results “left of architecture” to fuel a positive feedback loop that influences investments both by the US Government as well as private capital markets.

• Establish partner teams across supporting functions within Aerospace to plan and resource engineering, analyst and foresighting resources to meet schedule