Sr. Systems Engineer - Strategic SATCOM

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 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 Air Force 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 Aerospace Corporation is seeking a highly motivated Sr. Project Leader to work within an integrated program office of Space Force, Aerospace, and contractor personnel in support of Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) system acquisition. In the role, you’ll apply engineering expertise in support of systems engineering, integration, and test strategies for prototyping, development, and fielding phases of the program, ensuring synchronization and integration of government, ESS segment contractors, and other strategic collaborators.

Work Model - The position requires mostly in-office work in Classified environments, with the opportunity for occasional telework.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising the customer including ESS SEIT leadership in formulating, evaluating, and overseeing understanding of system requirements and system engineering practices
• Ensuring successful execution of systems integration efforts between space and ground segments of the ESS program
• Applying systems engineering, requirements, and test & validation standard methodologies to assist the customer in development of acquisition documents required for execution of Space, Ground, and Crypto acquisition efforts
• Shaping requirements definition for the ESS System including development, coordination, and approval of system capability documents, system requirements documents, and interface control documents
• Providing insight to Aerospace leadership and the customer on risks, issues, opportunities and associated mitigation strategies and corrective actions
• Assessing mission trades between segments and products for system-level design reviews to help identify optimal systems architecture designs
• Maintaining effective working relationships with customer leadership, capability-delivering contractors, ETG and other program office support organizations
• Leading the Aerospace team in the execution of the systems engineering, integration, and test responsibilities

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Ten or more years of increasingly responsible relevant professional engineering/scientific experience working across government programs
• Experience in systems engineering, requirements development, and program acquisition for government programs
• Track record of leading and communicating with interdisciplinary teams
• Capability to balance technical detail and broader programmatic perspectives
• Capacity to operate with agility in high intensity and fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities and demanding customer needs
• Ability to lead and communicate with diverse groups
• Experience working across government programs in systems engineering, requirements development, and program acquisition
• Skills in performing risk and schedule assessments
• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution or a related STEM field
• Travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required
• This position requires active Secret clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, o