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 Solution Accelerator is a transformative initiative within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). Its mission is to deliver independent, innovative solutions to customer hard problems with speed and national impact. The Solution Accelerator will achieve these goals through proactive problem solving, risk-taking for breakthroughs, and agile operations. By bringing the unique capabilities of the Aerospace Corporation, Solution Accelerator can anticipate and respond to mission challenges across the space enterprise to create actionable results for customers.
As the Solution Accelerator Systems Lead (Project Leader / Senior Project Leader - Engineering Program Management ), you will lead studies and use your deep technical expertise and thought leadership to identify and design cutting-edge innovation for our nation’s hardest customer problems. You will play a key role in exploring challenges in the space enterprise and formulating transformative solutions for development and delivery to customers. You will interface directly with government and senior internal Aerospace stakeholders, and contribute hands-on expertise to the innovation activities of the organization.
What You'll Be Doing
Partner with Solution Accelerator leadership and project teams to lead technical solutions to threat and mission needs with speed and national impact, serving as a technical authority
Develop clearly scoped Problem Statements by analyzing customer and Aerospace strategic priorities, root cause issues, and hardest problems; research internal and external solution landscapes to identify unique high-value opportunities for Aerospace
Lead conceptual design studies, evaluate proposed solutions, develop tools and models, and participate in rapid prototyping to support research, development, and programmatic decisions for internal and external customers
Design, plan, implement, coordinate, and track programs, subsystems, and initiatives from inception through completion, typically owning a specific project element, engineering discipline, or program/system aspect that crosses technical boundaries
Independently manage multiple project segments or smaller program/project efforts as a systems engineer
Serve as primary customer contact, interfacing between customers and Aerospace technical/management staff to lead discussions on cost, schedule, and technical performance, and bringing clarity to complex space enterprise challenges
Lead project proposals, business plans, work statements, specifications, and operating budgets/financial terms
Lead technical efforts and project teams, direct the work of assigned staff across technical, manufacturing, commercial, and administrative areas, and mentor less experienced staff as a role model within a highly empowered team environment
What You Need to Be Successful
Minimum Requirements for Project Leader:
Bachelor's degree in an appropriate technical discipline from a recognized institution
Experience working in a space-related technical area (e.g., satellite or instrument fabrication, integration, test, launch, operations; ground-based SOSI; etc.)
8 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment
Willingness to occasionally travel in support of thought leadership and customer engagement, approximately 20% (as…