Threat Mitigation and Resiliency Lead

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, 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 United States Space Force, United States Space Command, Air Force Material 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 Space Development Agency (SDA) was established in 2019 by the Department of Defense to define and monitor the Department’s future threat-driven space architecture and accelerate the development and fielding of new military space capabilities necessary to ensure our technological and military advantage in space for national defense. Aerospace support for the SDA resides within the Agile Acquisition Division of the Defense Architectures and Integration office of the Defense Systems Group, which provides decision support at the enterprise level to senior Aerospace customers across the DoD, as well as helping to connect and align customers and Aerospace across the space enterprise. The Threat Mitigation and Resiliency Lead (Senior Project Leader – Engineering Program Management & Cyber Security Architecture) leads support to vulnerability and threat analysis activities in SDA’s spacecraft acquisition programs as Lead Threat Analyst. The selected candidate will provide expertise in national space systems threats as well as vulnerability analysis and mitigation, along with modeling and simulation.

Work Model

This is an on-site role in Chantilly, VA.

What You'll Be Doing

• The selected candidate will lead Aerospace threat analysis support to the SDA Red Cell Chief and the Spacecraft Program Managers. In position, this selectee will coordinate across the Aerospace Enterprise with subject matter experts for support in defining processes and products, and prioritizing initial topic areas for analysis, based on SDA requirements and emerging capabilities.
• Lead support for vulnerability assessments based on knowledge of national space systems threats through modeling and simulation activities in support of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Support will include cyber security requirements reviews, developing and implementing system tests, leading Aerospace Independent Review Teams (IRTs), participating in threat reviews as well as spacecraft design reviews, supporting regular contractor program management reviews, and reviewing programmatic schedules and activities for technical and cyber security compliance. Lead cyber requirements reviews with senior SDA Government officials and coordinate threat mitigation plans with SDA Cell Chiefs. Apply systems engineering, requirements, and test and validation standard methodologies to assist SDA in the development of acquisition, test, and integration documents required for the execution of threat and vulnerability mitigation efforts. Additionally, shape requirements for the SDA Enterprise in the definition of threat mitigation efforts across the SDA Trances and Ground sites.
• Help to ensure SDA’s mission success by leading the development and implementation of threat mitigation strategies across the Transport (communications) and Tracking (missile tracking) satellite development programs, as well as Ground development and Launch segments, in the PWSA. Apply lessons learned and commercial best practices as well as systems engineering principles in an agile acquisition environment to implement threat protection techniques. Lead the program reviews to assess these threat implementation strategies and recommend lessons learned that result from these reviews.
• Interact daily with SDA senior leaders, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA personnel across all the program Cells and divisions in the acquisition and employment of these spacecraft. Ensure constellation architectures meet warfighter requirements for threat protection.
• Participate in technical desig