Principal Director - Space C2

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, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, and Space Intelligence (BMC3I) is responsible for advancing operational and tactical capabilities in the space domain while leading the modernization and sustainment of the Satellite Control Network (SCN). Their mission is to deliver advanced, resilient, and integrated systems that strengthen space operations and enhance decision-making across the enterprise. This includes modernizing infrastructure and networks to support tactical operations and equipping leaders with the tools to employ space effects with greater precision, agility, and speed.

This requisition seeks an experienced and highly motivated candidate to provide technical and programmatic leadership as a Principal Director in the Enterprise Ground Division in support of the Space C2 elements of the BMC3I portfolio.  The Principal Director is responsible for leading the Aerospace efforts to support BMC3I, including systems engineering, architecture planning, developing capability delivery roadmaps, engagements with various customers and users, and acquisition planning and execution.  The selected candidate will apply leadership and acquisition expertise to ensure needed capabilities are translated and applied to acquisition and development efforts, promoting integration of pioneering technology and rapid acquisition efficiencies. 

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.  

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead Aerospace efforts in alignment with BMC3I customer needs in software and hardware development & transition to operations, including mission processing, command and control, and TT&C.  Direct organization resources and operation to respond effectively to those needs.
• Lead a team driving multiple levels integration across the whole portfolio of BMC3I by influencing the design of data feeds, software integration patterns, platforms, and networks to bring integrated solutions to the warfighters. 
• Provide technical advisement to government officials and Aerospace leaders through the development of courses of action, developing potential plans and strategies, and facilitating technical discussions across government, FFRDC/UARCs, and contractor teams.  
• Lead organization in setting strategy, goals, and expectations; developing, mentoring, and driving engagement of staff, identification and retention of talent.
• Conduct budget planning and allocation of resources, including identifying and hiring to fill needed positions and coordinating ETG support.
• Maintain effective working relationships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG and other supporting contractors.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Principal Director:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a STEM field or equivalent area.
• 12 or more years of experience including experience in the acquisition and development of space mission ground/software intensive systems, and/or experience in the development of modeling and simulation capabilities.
• 3 or more years of people management experience and the ability to perform resource planning, staffing, coaching and mentoring, and performance and development of team.
• Experience with building, leading, and maintaining integrated multidisciplinary mixed government, SE&I, SETA and FFRDC teams.
• Experience solving integration challenges between programs
• Experience delivering results by influencing key stakeholders
• Experience working through complex engineering challenges which have both technical and political contributions.
• Experience with processes associated with a government system acquisition and lifecycle.
• Excellent social skills enabling effective communication with customers, direct reports, colleagues, and senior management.
• Willingness to travel to customer or contractor facilities as required (approximately 20%)
• Active Top Secret / SCI clearance with ability to obtain Special Access (SAP) and maintain clearance, issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be nice if you had one or more of these:

• Advanced academic degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, or a related engineering or scientific field
• Proficiency in C2 ground systems and operations is strongly desired
• Demonstrated experience in the development, integration and test of software-intensive system architectures, delivering cloud-based solutions, application of advanced data sciences and artificial intelligence, cyber security, and integration of complex systems
• Prior management role in direct support of a government customer in program office
• Proven ability to work in fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Understanding of the Aerospace role and the guidelines for appropriate use of FFRDCs
• Knowledge of Aerospace capabilities available to meet customer and corporate goals
• Demonstrated enterprise-level perspective with prior Aerospace Program Office(s) and ETG experience
• Experience integrating across multiple disparate software systems.
• Current Special Access (SAP) clearance

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)

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.