Systems Director – Spectrum Warfare Analysis and Design

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 Air Force Space Command, U.S. Strategic 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.

As part of the Space Enterprise and Warfighting Division, the Space Security Directorate provides high-quality analytical support to the USSF Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC), Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP), and Headquarters, United States Space Command, advising the Government on the design, performance, and resilience of future space forces to win the next war. We are seeking a proactive and highly motivated Systems Director to work within an integrated team of Government, Aerospace, other FFRDCs, and SETA contractors. The Systems Director is responsible for leading Aerospace efforts to support the SWAC Spectrum Warfare Program Director in the development of the US Space Force design for Spectrum Warfare capabilities, including Space Data Transport, Ground Data Transport and PNT. As the System Director, you will lead a talented group of experts, driving their efforts towards achieving customer and organizational goals. We are looking for someone with technical and leadership skills to champion innovative, enterprise thinking and analytical approaches on this fast moving and high-profile program.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in Colorado Springs, CO , which requires 100% onsite work in classified facilities.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide leadership and technical support to the Space Warfighting Analysis Center.  This fast-paced organization is developing force designs for the next generation of capabilities to provide space effects to the joint warfighter and operate in a highly contested operational environment. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively in a multi-level classification environment with interagency, military, and civilian communities in the planning, conduct and interpretation of analysis to shape the force designs of the future U.S. space data transport, space-based PNT, and distributed processing architectures.
• Advise the SWAC’s Government leadership on analytical approaches, force design, systems engineering and development of future architectures
• Provide strategic leadership: Align and communicate strategic goals with tactical plans, and direction to the technical team, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives
• Lead, inspire, and motivate a team of technical professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment
• Plan, assign, and manage the workload of interdisciplinary teams to meet customer requirements. Coordinate and prioritize work activities and balance resources to ensure completion within available STE/resources and schedule
• Resource allocation and planning: Identify and allocate resources, both human and technical, to ensure optimal productivity and efficiency within the team
• Identify Aerospace resources and expertise that can be brought to bear on tough customer problems. Translate SWAC Government leadership needs for engineering and analytical support to members of Aerospace’s Engineering and Technology Group (ETG)

What You Need to be Successful - Systems Director - Engineering Program Management and Systems Engineering

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical subject area
• 12 or more years of professional experience in a relevant field and 10 or more years of experience supporting National Security Space missions
• Experience building and maintaining effective interpersonal relations with internal and external organizations such as with customers, Aerospace, contractors, or related
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Work integrally and effectively with the program office team and staff from external organizations
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 15-25%.   
• This position requires a current Top Secret/SSBI/SCI clearance to interview with the ability to obtain and maintain additional security clearances, which are issued by the U.S. 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:

• Graduate degree in engineering, physics, or other technical sciences from a recognized institution
• Modeling, simulation, and analysis experience, with a strong background in space systems, space operations or joint warfighting operations
• Demonstrated success in directly interfacing with senior government leadership of varying backgrounds
• Experience with agile approaches to analysis and development activities
• Extensive experience with one or more space system development program office
• Experience working with the Space Security and Defense Program, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, US Space Force, US Space Command or NRO customers
• Extensive experience with joint/service requirements development processes and service/OSD budget/POM processes
• Knowledge of man-made threats to space systems
• Working knowledge of Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) organizations, tools, skills, and capabilities

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 various 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 employer. 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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.