Senior Project Leader

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities.

As part of the Enterprise Design Subdivision (EDS), The Mission Engineering Department provides technical expertise and leadership in mission engineering methods, processes, and tools to a broad range of customers, including National Security Space (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, and others. Members of the Mission Engineering Department evaluate and assess customer mission-integration needs and/or challenges, develop end-to-end mission threads, and provide timely advice, make recommendations to enterprise leaders on risks, issues, and gaps, and develop recommended solutions to enable desired mission outcomes. The Mission Engineering Department applies the mission-engineering tradecraft to build and analyze end-to-end effects-chains. The Senior Project Leader for Operations will focus on our building the team with essential knowledge and skills for designing and developing mission engineering artifacts related to effects chains for the space domain.

Work Model: 

This a part-time position in Colorado Springs, CO, with a hybrid work model requiring on-site and with potential for some telework, as business needs permit.

What You’ll Be Doing:   

• Integration leader by developing the Mission Engineering Department framework, process, and best practices for the department to execute and enhance corporate capabilities that inform our customers’ architecture, systems-of-systems, operations, and enterprise decisions.
• Spokesperson for the Mission Engineering Department to define the essential knowledge and skills for designing and developing mission engineering artifacts related to effects chains for the space domain.
• Define, develop, and lead a process to enhance the mission engineering tradecraft in technical, operational, and policy competencies focusing on enterprise architecture for delivering end-to-end solutions to enable effects chains.
• Develop the appropriate delivery method for various courses, programs, sessions, certifications, rotations, etc., as well as the length of each program and the required time commitments.
• Serve as a focal point for understanding the demands and where skills need to be developed/sharpened in areas like familiarity with space operations and warfighting, advanced knowledge of space mission systems and components, proficiency in mission simulation and testing, ability to perform risk analysis, and mitigation of potential mission failures.
• Foster an organizational culture that promotes innovation, diversity, and inclusion, developing and maintaining relationships with peer organizations, and creating and leading diverse teams of multi-discipline analysts and subject matter experts.
• Identify new partnerships for future mission engineering growth.
• Coordinate complex technical tasks among customers, managing resources to efficiently staff and execute projects, and ensuring quality and accuracy of work products.
• Drive the development of staff through training, mentoring, and coaching across a national organization.
• You will work closely with the broader subdivision leadership team to spearhead the mission-relevant talent development experiences needed to cultivate an effective, efficient, and cohesive national organization.

What You Need to be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and equivalent technical experience

• At least 12 ye