Systems Director - Missile Defense Agency Support

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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, development planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including US Space Force, U.S Space Command, Air Force Materiel 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. DSG also assists the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

This Systems Director role will be supporting multiple program offices in Huntsville, AL and Colorado Springs, CO and requires coordination with DoD customers to ensure the sharing of knowledge, best practices and strengthen integration of the DoD enterprise to further enhance the mission. Provides leadership, planning, and direction of technical office staff and operations. Assigns resources, determines staffing needs, and coordinates activities and operations among subordinate units. Communicates and coordinates activities to counterpart organizations, management, and customers. This includes coordination of requirements spanning DoD programs affecting multiple mission areas. The role requires missile defense agency, space command and control and battle management subject matter expertise and includes modeling and simulation, systems engineering, analysis as well as assistance and oversight for operational employment, development, and fielding of new and existing Missile Defense Agency capabilities with a focus on ensuring operational effectiveness of missile defense and deterrence capabilities across all phases of conflict. 

Work Model

This is an on-site position based at the Schriever Space Force Base with a minimum of 4 days of in-office work.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the Aerospace support to MDA/DES and MDA/BC teams:
  • Represent Aerospace SD3 as needed at Colorado Springs Aerospace functions as the on-site manager for SD3.
  • Establishes organization’s objectives and goals and communicates them to subordinates, management, and interfacing matrix organizations.
  • Participates with higher management in determining organization’s structure and staff and supports resource needs.
  • Identifies and assigns sub-organization and staff functional responsibilities.
  • Seeks and identifies opportunities for additional, expanded and new business and assists higher management in the evaluation and pursuit of new opportunities.
  • Cooperates and communicates frequently with customer to coordinate and report work progress, issues, and results.
  • Directs technical group performing engineering design, analysis or other research and development activities.
  • Co-located with customer systems program offices, interfaces regularly at working-level and management level to ensure rapid assembly of and response by special task teams, efficient assignment of responsibility and action items, and rapid exchange of information.
  • Plans, organizes, and manages work of research/development department conducting investigations, evaluations, experimentation, and related program support.
• Provides interface between department and corporate/customer management, developing and strengthening relationships.
• You will provide leadership in growing modeling and analysis capabilities in new support areas that diversifies the department’s customer base.
• Solving the customers hardest problems in the development, fielding, planning, integration, and operational employment of new space combat power and C2BMC capabilities.
• Provide management, leadership and development of junior analysts on study teams.
• Provide technical expertise and project leadership in the areas of modeling and simulation, capabilities assessments.
• Apply broad and/or deep experience with customer missile systems and technologies in one or more specific functional areas depending on background.
• Provide management of ETG and lab resources.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, operations research, or an equivalent STEM field.
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including substantial experience in a managerial role with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, and corporate staff.
• Demonstrated and exceptional interpersonal, teambuilding, strategic, leadership and communication skills.
• A strong technical background and experience in operations, systems engineering, testing, fielding and operations from a range of perspectives and domains.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with all levels of (including very senior) Government, Aerospace, and contractor personnel.
• A strong background in and understanding of modeling and simulation techniques, tools, approaches, and verification, validation, and accreditation.
• A strong understanding of digital engineering concepts, practices, and approaches
• Familiarity with space combat power, command, control, and communications and battle management.
• Familiarity with the integration of space surveillance network radars into the battlespace and associated cueing/tasking capability to/from those radars in support of USSPACECOMs mission.
• Ability to influence outcomes with both strong verbal and written communications using objective facts, analysis, modeling & simulation, and testing results.
• Proven track record in a highly dynamic program office environment with a mix of Government, FFRDC and SETA personnel.
• This position requires a current Secret clearance, which is issued by the US Government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance.
• Ability to travel within and to/from Alabama, California and Colorado.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in systems engineering, operations research, or an equivalent STEM field
• Current knowledge of Command and Control (C2) and Space Control system technologies, capabilities, acquisition, and an understanding of space and ground systems development
• Current knowledge of Modeling and Simulation technologies, capabilities, and acquisition 
• Current knowledge of Digital Engineering technologies, capabilities, and acquisition

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. 

(Min - Max)

$168,200 - $252,400

Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.