Chief Operating Officer

Is there anything more exciting than surrounding yourself with the smartest people on the planet who are shaping the future of space? We don’t think so. The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, providing unmatched technical expertise to solve the hardest problems. As a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are engaged across the space enterprise — delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground and cyber systems for defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial customers. With over 3,000 scientists and engineers, Aerospace addresses complex problems across the enterprise through agility, innovation, and objective technical leadership.

To enable this, The Aerospace Corporation is focusing on critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, photonics, optical communications, additive manufacturing, electric propulsion, as well as new tools in modeling, simulation, cloud computing, and digital engineering. We design and test these technologies in our world-class labs and facilities.

For example, did you know that Aerospace builds and operates the world’s largest constellation of experimental cubesats? These capabilities are providing the foundation for a new generation of resilient, affordable constellation of satellites and advanced ground systems that meet the needs of warfighters, explorers, and key decision makers. These and other major activities place us in the unprecedented position to influence the exciting changes that span across the entire space industry.  Join us and make a difference.

Job Summary

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) serves as the senior executive leader of the enterprise service organizations for The Aerospace Corporation. Areas of responsibility include Finance, Enterprise Information Systems, Security & Safety, Facilities, Corporate Communications, People & Culture. These organizations total about 1,000 employees.

The selected candidate will have an accomplished career:

• Providing senior level leadership of cross-functional delivery of operational services to a highly technical engineering & integration organization in a high-security environment.
• Establishing service level agreements to create high performing capabilities in and integration between finance, HR, IT, facilities, security and corporate communications.
• Positioning the company for long-term success through people, polices, practices, and programs to achieve optimal workforce engagement and organizational agility and resilience.

Work Model

This is a full-time onsite position located preferably in our Crystal City, DC, or Chantilly VA campus location, although consideration for El Segundo, CA will also be given.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Create and execute on an enterprise-wide strategy for delivering high-quality, cost-effective services in support of the company’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Integrate and optimize internal operations across the Enterprise Services organizations in a hybrid work environment across multiple locations.
• Partner with the Executive Vice President to ensure that Enterprise Services are meeting the needs of the customer-facing and technical organizational components of the corporation.
• Lead organizational transformation efforts to streamline and harmonize business processes, tools, policies, and procedures to achieve operational excellence and efficiencies.
• Lead the Enterprise Services Council (ESC) to drive cross-organizational integration.
• Provide oversight and leadership of enterprise service level objectives and agreements.
• Lead and facilitate corporate resource planning (budgets, workforce planning, facilities)
• Lead and achieve digital transformation of business operations to include leveraging Gen AI to drive organizational and operational efficiencies.
• Manage special enterprise-wide projects.
• Chair Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC) program management reviews for the FFRDC contract.
• Issue operating plans for compliance with regulations and company policies.
• Develop people and business strategies to achieve the Company’s service delivery and mission needs.
• Assess and develop mitigations for operational and financial enterprise risks.
• Leverage change management expertise to coach business leaders on driving enterprise change.
• Build trust across all levels of the organization and with external customers and partners.
• Develop high performing, diverse and change resilient teams; remove barriers for clients and teams to achieve objectives.
• Contribute to company-level goals for talent development, diversity, and inclusion; develops and prepares top talent for leadership positions ahead of need.

What You Need to be Successful - Chief Operating Officer

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in Business, Finance, Management, or related field
• 10 or more years of experience in a senior leadership role accountable for enterprise-level services, programs, and initiatives that include resource and financial accountability
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change and transformation.
• Experience leading multiple organizations.
• Executive communications skills
• Ability and willingness to travel (20%)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI access which is issued by the US government, US citizenship is required.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Finance, Management, or related field
• Prior experience performing at a C-Suite level position leading a large number of people
• Prior executive level leadership and profit & loss organization
• Prior experience in a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) environment

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.