Payroll Specialist

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.

Job Summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist II/III to join our People Operations team! In this position, you will provide support, administration, and troubleshooting on payroll matters with employees, managers, auditors, and outside agencies. You will possess tax and compliance expertise and will ensure Payroll reporting and payments are compliant with Company policy, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and federal, state, and IRS regulations.

Work Model

This position is a hybrid work model offering 3+ days onsite at our El Segundo CA campus location and partial days remote, or as business conditions allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide critical payroll support to our employee population on such items as: 
  • Accurate and timely validation of wage, salary, bonus calculations
  • Time and Attendance administration, including timekeeping changes 
  • Leave Administration (i.e., medical leaves, military leaves)
  • Retroactive pay, supplemental pay, and other fringe benefits 
  • Off-cycle manual checks
  • Stop payments and uncashed checks
  • Wage Assignments
  • Tax Compliance, including W-2 processing
  • Payroll Accounting, including funding tax liabilities
  • Other payroll-related duties and responsibilities
• Utilize payroll software systems to run scheduled system jobs for processing payroll and resolve any errors, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Run ad-hoc reports and analyze payroll data to identify and rectify errors or discrepancies
• Partner with Payroll vendor to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws in payroll processes and reporting
• Collaborate with People Operations, Finance, and other departments to ensure accurate employee data and seamless coordination of payroll activities
• Monitor and respond to the Payroll In-box for timely responses to inquiries  
• Address and resolve employee inquiries and concerns related to timekeeping, deductions, and tax withholding in a timely and professional manner
• Prepare and distribute payroll-related documents to employees as needed
• Stay current on developments and changes in payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Payroll Specialist III:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Six or more years of relevant Payroll experience
• Demonstrated understanding of payroll processes and regulations
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws
• Familiarity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and practices related to payroll
• Strong tax and compliance expertise
• Proficiency in use of payroll software, HRIS systems, and Excel for data entry, calculations, and analysis
• Organizational skills to manage multiple payroll cycles and meet weekly payroll production deadlines
• Effective communication skills to interact with employees and resolve inquiries or concerns
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Payroll Specialist IV:

• Ten or more years of relevant Payroll experience

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• Professional certification in payroll administration (e.g., Certified Payroll Professional, Fundamental Payroll Certification)
• Experience with SAP
• Experience with ADP
• Experience with Workday

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)

$30.16 - $49.92

Pay Basis: Hourly

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.