Sr. Mission Assurance 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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

We are looking for a Senior Mission Assurance Project Leader (Senior Project Leader– Mission Assurance Engineering). You will provide direct support to the customer's Systems Engineering Directorate's Mission Assurance Executive (MAE) ensuring industry is prepared to produce and deliver the critical trusted and assured components when needed by the government program offices.  MAE oversees the government’s supply chain management through direct engagement with industry to ensure quality manufacturing processes and direct engagement on legislation and government strategies to influence national funding and priorities.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly, VA which requires 100% onsite work at a customer facility.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide the technical definition of tasks and projects with the government customer on supply chain, industrial base, and space vehicle parts quality concerns for all the government’s programs

• Initiate engagement with suppliers to develop roadmaps and acquisition requirements needed to mitigate Industrial Base issues
• Provide Technical leadership to junior staff work and mentor staff in maturing their technical products
• Develop mitigation strategies for industrial base issues impacting the availability of components and technology obsolescence that may require R&D infusion or industrial base financial stimulation to ensure that industry is prepared to produce and deliver the critical trusted and assured components when needed by the government program offices.
• Define test scenarios and test acceptance criteria with Aerospace labs on several phases of analysis of parts anomalies to find root cause of anomalies and outline the path forward for resolution for each impacted program
• Develop technical content and mitigations for industrial bases risks and present those risks to program offices and the government
• Analyze industry trades to ensure technologies meet the certification requirements and future performance requirements for current and future government programs

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Senior Project Leader – Mission Assurance Engineering

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in engineering, sciences, mathematics, or related discipline.
• 10 years of progressively more responsible engineering/scientific experience
• Experience working with space programs or acquisition offices.
• Ability to define the gaps between supplier product offerings versus future program needs and gaps. Initiate new projects to increase production throughput on space capabilities.
• Ability to define and provide technical insight to the customer on industrial base risks, parts issues, and mitigation strategies
• Ability to travel [occasionally] approx. 15%
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI security clearance and polygraph, 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 degree in engineering, sciences, mathematics, or related discipline.
• Experience with interfacing with Space Force, NASA, MDA, and/or DLA
• Experience with process and product quality assessments and audits beginning with audit/assessment planning through verification of corrective and/or preventive actions.
• Experience working with suppliers and subcontractors to define supply chain issues or resolve technical issues.
• Experience with Quality Management standards including ISO 9001 and/or AS9100.
• Experience with the identification of parts quality anomalies and their impacts across the government programs and agencies. 
• Experience with acquisition, testing, or engineering analysi