Project Leader/Senior Project Leader in EO/IR Sensing and Tactical Surveillance

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.

Aerospace serves as the technical and programmatic advisor to the United States Space Force’s (USSF’s) Space Systems Command (SSC) for acquiring, developing, and fielding capabilities for the United States Space Command and join warfighter as well as to maintain America’s comprehensive military advantage in space.

As the Senior Project Leader/Project Leader in Electro-Optical Sensing and Tactical Surveillance directorate, you will play a pivotal role in SSC’s acquisition of Space Based Tactical Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), persistent surveillance systems, and Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (SRT) capabilities.  You will have an opportunity to guide USSF development and transition of prototype/demonstration capabilities to operational systems providing surveillance data to end users/warfighters.  This job entails providing both technical and programmatic support to efforts that include multiple stake holders and mission partners that may include Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), DARPA, NRO, NGA, and other government agencies.

Work Model: This position will be a hybrid work model and offer partially remote with some onsite work required in El Segundo, CA. The role has an estimate of 3 days of in-office work/week.  

What You’ll Be Doing

• Delivery technical expertise to the Government’s SSC Space Based Sensing EO-IR Environmental Monitoring and SRT teams
• Interact regularly with Government customer leaders, SETA contractors, multiple development contractors, and other collaborators across SSC and government agencies.
• Build and lead Aerospace subject matter experts (SMEs) to address technical and programmatic studies, issues, efforts in support of the government customer
• Conduct technical review of design artifacts and support integration of capabilities at an enterprise level
• Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed
• Support the government customer in developing strategy to address future architecture and capabilities

What You Need to be Successful

Project Leader

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or an appropriate technical subject area
• Minimum of 6 years of related engineering/scientific experience with experience in acquisition planning, analysis, development of national security space systems
• Track record of working successfully in multi-disciplinary teams to develop and field prototype/demonstration/commercial ground/space systems
• Collaboration skills to build effective links with government customers, and other partners to dynamically deliver outstanding products under tight timeframes
• Ability to thrive in dynamic and ambiguous environment
• Willing to travel approx. 30% of the time
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

In addition to the above, the Senior Project Leader requires:

• Minimum of 12 years of related engineering/scientific experience with >5 years of experience in acquisition planning, analysis, development of national security space systems
• Experience in building/leading multi-disciplinary teams for dynamic customer requests
• Experience in transitioning demonstration/prototype/pathfinder efforts to operational systems
• Demonstrated bridging multiple domain areas for successful integrating efforts

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced Degree(s)
• Relevant experience in Tactical ISR, SRT mission/operations areas
• Understanding of the national security space enterprise
• Program management experience
• Ability to thrive in a competitive yet ambiguous environment
• Experience with Radar, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Active/Passive Radio Frequency (RF) detection, Electro-Optical, and Infrared (IR) detection/sensors/phenomeno