Principal 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.

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

The Human Spaceflight Development & Operations (HSD&O) division seeks a Principal Engineer- (Technical Project Management) dedicated to working across organizational boundaries to provide solutions at the intersection of human spaceflight needs and advanced technology identification/research and development with the goal of maturing human in the loop capabilities supporting Aerospace’s customers’ missions. As a Principal Engineer (PE), you will provide technical leadership for HSD&O in system development matters focused on capabilities critical to sustain human life on long duration missions. You will work collaboratively with NASA senior managers and staff, other civil agencies, university partners, commercial customers, as well as our Aerospace engineering and program development staff to advance Aerospace Corporation’s human spaceflight capabilities and expanding our growing human spaceflight portfolio. The PE will be responsible for developing strategies responsive to customer needs, develop and cultivate customer relationships and coordinate with Aerospace’s Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) to provide specialized analyses.  The primary objective of this position is to influence the direction of the NASA customer in areas of research and development, prototyping, and technology development while also aligning Aerospace technology, modeling, and simulation capabilities with customer priorities.      

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines 4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership across NASA Technology and Chief Technologist offices, with the goal of establishing contractual relationships for Aerospace ETG analyses and support.
• Serve as technical advisor to senior NASA Senior Executive Service leaders and other Texas key government / university partners, including direct interaction and support of NASA Mission Directorate Associate Administrators.
• Lead the HE&SF IR&D portfolio and partnership development to develop and maintain a healthy pipeline of technology initiatives that will aid HE&SF, NASA, and Texas government / university partners.
• Provide technical leadership to subject matter experts and engineering support across interdisciplinary and geographically distributed teams to the NASA EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) System Engineering & Integration departments.
• Lead strategic planning and establishing external strategic relationships with potential partners, customers, and collaborators associated with a defined NASA programmatic theme or area of emphasis across the various NASA centers.
• Lead and evaluate processes, techniques, and performance; design and implement more effective and efficient processes.
• Work with the NASA customer, partner organizations, and Aerospace technical experts in formulating overall strategy, defining requirements, and evaluating capabilities, in developing and broadening Aerospace’s reach into the human space flight arena.
• Apply Aerospace technical leadership expertise in structuring support objectives, plans (scope, cost, schedule, resource) for on-going support efforts and strategic studies.

What You Need to be Successful - Principal Engineer- Technical Project Management

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent
• 15 years or more of relevant engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary