Senior Project Leader – Advanced Technology for Cislunar

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape future space missions across the national security space enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including, the United States Space Force, the Department of the Air Force, the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation.

The Advanced Technology and Concepts (ATC) organization within the Space Innovation Directorate (SID) leads the Aerospace team supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory executed with the Air Force and Space Force. AFRL leads research and development for the Air Force and Space Force and develops prototypes and advanced technology demonstrators across the Department of Defense. This senior project leader would lead a team of engineers and customers in assessments of technology and applicable policy implications for future Space Force capabilities in Cislunar space, including assistance and oversight for technology development programs, and mission development, systems engineering, and operations planning for technology demonstrations and space experiments / prototypes both with the Space Force and with the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Work Model

This position is located at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Integration of Aerospace expertise and analysis to provide responsive recommendations to Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) customer leadership for multiple, varied, on-going programs and new programs added to the portfolio 
• Actively communicate and coordinate across organizations, management, and customers to ensure timely, high-quality development and delivery of strategies, analyses, risk assessments and recommendations  
• Integrate and leverage all aspects/functions/capability of the Aerospace Corporation in executing the mission portfolio through virtual teaming, backplane engagement, ETG matrix, etc. 
• Work closely with members of a varied team of military, government civilians, prime contractors, SE&I contractors, FFRDCs and National Laboratories. Work closely with Aerospace Labs, communities, and internal development projects to generate collaboration with AFRL projects
• Lead a team of Aerospace employees and government customers in development of Cislunar experiments.
• Actively participate in customer senior decision forums. Elevate Aerospace’s strategic value to the Space Force through the objective evaluation of alternative mission designs, technical advice on Space Vehicle acquisitions, and optimized support to integration and launch. 

What You Need to be Successful - Senior Project Leader - Systems and Mission Assurance Engineering

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering or program management 
• Demonstrated leadership skills within a program office or matrixed technical organization, leading project teams, formulating task plans, ensuring product quality and effective interactions with customers, FFRDC and SETA personnel
• Ability to work in a self-motivated and directed manner with senior customer personnel on a variety of technical, programmatic, and administrative issues, in a customer field-office environment, is required.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; experience presenting and writing technical information 
• Occasional travel required 
• This position requires an active TS/SCI or current SSBI, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.