Payroll Specialist

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.

Job Summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join our People Operations team! In this position, you will provide support, administration, and troubleshooting on payroll matters with employees, managers, auditors, and outside agencies. You will ensure payroll reporting and payments are compliant with Company policy, generally accepted accounting principles, and federal, state and IRS regulations.

Work Model

This position will be a hybrid work model offering partial days onsite at our El Segundo CA campus location and partial days remote, as business conditions allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide critical payroll support to our employee population​
• Utilize payroll software systems to run scheduled system jobs for processing payroll and resolve any errors, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Run ad-hoc reports and analyze payroll data to identify and rectify errors or discrepancies
• Partner with Payroll vendor to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws in payroll processes and reporting
• Collaborate with People Operations, Finance, and other departments to ensure accurate employee data and seamless coordination of payroll activities
• Monitor and respond to the Payroll In-box for timely responses to inquiries  
• Address and resolve employee inquiries and concerns related to timekeeping, deductions, and tax withholding in a timely and professional manner
• Prepare and distribute payroll-related documents to employees as needed
• Stay current on developments and changes in payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Payroll Specialist II:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Three or more years of relevant payroll experience
• Demonstrated understanding of payroll processes and regulations
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws
• Familiarity with general accounting principles and practices related to payroll
• Proficiency in use of payroll software, HRIS systems, and Excel for data entry, calculations, and analysis
• Organizational skills to manage multiple payroll cycles and meet weekly payroll production deadlines.
• Effective communication skills to interact with employees and resolve inquiries or concerns
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Payroll Specialist III:

• Five or more years of relevant payroll experience

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• Professional certification in payroll administration (e.g., Certified Payroll Professional, Fundamental Payroll Certification)
• Experience with SAP, ADP or Workday

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. 

(Min - Max)

$24.72 - $45.24

Pay Basis: Hourly

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our ta