Project Systems Engineer

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 Systems Engineering Division (SED) provides unmatched experience in systems engineering to the U.S. government and to numerous public and private agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, consortia, and commercial companies involved in the advanced application of space technology. From systems architecture development to system analysis and optimization, astrodynamics, orbital debris, navigation, failure analysis, mission assurance, cost and schedule assessment, and economic market analysis, SED exploits an incredibly broad array of engineering and business disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs and national challenges. 

The Systems Integration and Test Office (SITO), the place Aerospace goes for integration and test, is currently looking for a Senior Project Engineer in Aerospace locations supporting the National Capital Region. This position entails supporting programs executed in multiple regions, including but not limited to satellite programs, ground systems, small satellite experimentation, prototyping, and rapid acquisition; nuclear weapons design and acquisition; nuclear weapons security and non-proliferation.

The position will be managed out of SITO and tasked by the program office as a matrixed position. This will require the candidate to work collaboratively with acquisition and modernization program staff to fully leverage the Aerospace Corporation's technical capabilities in all relevant areas to best support the program office. This construct links to applicant to the engineering expertise in Aerospace while directly supporting the customer.

SITO is the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group (ETG) source of expertise in Systems Integration - including technology insertion, and system engineering applied to operationally realistic tests. SITO staff support all program phases from pre-contract assistance with concepts of operation, integration planning, system test planning, design and development activities followed by build, integration, verification, and transition to operations events. This position represents a significant career opportunity to grow the division tasking and be part of innovating solutions to customer challenges. 

WORK MODEL:

• This is a full-time position that requires 100% onsite work in one of the Aerospace locations in either Chantilly, VA, Crystal City, VA, Reston, VA, or Greenbelt, MD.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support on site activities to support IC, DOE, and USSF customers engineering and space acquisition analysis, studies, coordinate project and study teams at Aerospace, and provide recommendations in the Northern Virginia region.
• Collaborate across the NRO and the Intelligence community to influence current and future investments in commercial technology and capabilities.
• Support selected activities to one of a number of customers to include the Space Systems Center, IC, NASA, and NNSA Office of Systems Engineering and Integration, NNSA weapons Life Extension Programs (LEPs) and other NNSA offices with system engineering and integration (SE&I) expertise.
• Serve as the integration leader and coordinator for program offices, organize interfaces between customers' and Aerospace technical and management staff, and develop and managing customer support plans to maximize mission satisfaction.
• Coordinate with Government, SETA, and contractor teams to field highly classified critical systems.
• Identify opportunities, prioritize tasks, facilitate communication and act as the spokesperson to the customer for modeling support acquisitions that optimize the application and utility of commercial space systems inside the government’s architecture.
• Lead technical staff and matrixed technical resources to address a broad range of acquisition and technical topics.
• Develop and collect the latest in systems engineering practices, to include agile, Digital Engineering, enterprise performance, and proliferated constellations.
• Establish verifiable requirements for space systems and ensure the appropriate use of test as a verification and validation technique for programs during the requirements definition phase.
• Provide systems engineering and