ICADS Ground Segment Lead (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.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

We are seeking an experienced ICADS Ground Segment Lead (Senior Project Leader) to lead the U.S. National Defense Space (USNDS) Integrated Correlation and Display System (ICADS) segment, overseeing the design, development, and deployment of critical ground system supporting our NUDET space missions. This role requires a strategic technical leader with deep understanding of nuclear detection architectures, ground system architectures, software development, and cross-functional team leadership to this vital national security program.

What You’ll be Doing

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of ICADS ground segment systems supporting hosted payload operations for nuclear detection sensors
• Develop and execute strategic roadmaps for ground system evolution and modernization
• Identify critical ground system development and integration decision points and milestones/events to ensure the successful transitioning of ICADS system capabilities from development to operations
• Participate in program status assessments and conduct independent risk assessments that inform government and Aerospace management of technical issues and recommended courses of action
• Provide insight into contractor system development and integration planning and execution, including system functional and performance testing for the ground, space, and combined ground-space capabilities 
• Represent Aerospace in program meetings and technical forums such as design reviews, technical interchanges, and program management reviews
• Interface with government customers, mission stakeholders, and executive leadership

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility at LA Air Force Base in El Segundo, CA.

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements – Sr. Project Leader – Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Science, or related technical field
• Twelve or more years of responsible professional engineering experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments
• Experience with development, test, and fielding of ground systems
• Prior engineering leadership or project management experience
• Experience with modern software development processes
• Proven ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with military, technical, and contractor teams
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills
• Current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance, issued by the US government. US citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Ability to support periodic travel (typically 1 trip per month)

How Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Strong, hands-on knowledge of ground system architectures, especially antenna networks and advanced communications network technologies 
• Technical understanding of the current threat environment
• NUDET (Nuclear Detonation Detection) mission experience - familiarity with detection phenomenology, data processing algorithms, and op