Aerospace Engineer-SME
About The Position
The Aerospace Engineer will provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to Space Systems Command, Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SN), at Los Angeles Air Force Base. The role supports the acquisition, development, integration, test, launch, operations, sustainment, and modernization of space-based missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence capabilities. The engineer provides enterprise-level systems engineering and integration support across space, ground, communications, and mission-support segments. Supported capabilities include Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) GEO and Polar systems, FORGE, RGS, Resilient Missile Warning Track, and related OPIR sensor capabilities. The position is full-time, in person/hybrid, and not remote. Occasional travel may be required (10%). An active Top Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship are required. The salary is $130,000 or more annually, depending on experience, certifications, and qualifications.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- At least 15 years of relevant aerospace, space systems, defense acquisition, or systems engineering experience.
- Experience supporting Department of Defense or Space Force acquisition programs.
- Experience with space systems, missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, satellite systems, ground systems, or mission operations.
- Experience with requirements management, technical baseline management, systems integration, verification and validation, and risk management.
- Knowledge of the DoD acquisition lifecycle and applicable policies, processes, and standards.
- Strong technical writing, briefing, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively with government, contractor, operational, and senior leadership stakeholders.
- Active Top Secret clearance.
- U.S. citizenship.
Nice To Haves
- Previous supervisory or team-lead experience, including leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, assigning and prioritizing work, mentoring personnel, managing performance, and coordinating deliverables across government and contractor organizations.
- Master’s degree in a relevant engineering or technical field.
- Experience supporting SSC, Missile Warning, OPIR, SBIRS, FORGE, or related programs.
- Familiarity with AFI 63-101/20-101, AFI 63-1201, DoDI 5000.02, MIL-STD-882E, NIST SP 800-160, and applicable space safety and acquisition guidance.
- Experience with MBSE, Digital Engineering, Agile development, DevSecOps, and model-based mission assurance.
- Experience with launch integration, on-orbit operations, ground segment integration, sensor fusion, or TCPED processes.
- Active TS/SCI clearance.
Responsibilities
- Provide senior-level aerospace systems engineering and technical advisory support across the full acquisition lifecycle.
- Support requirements development, decomposition, validation, verification, traceability, and configuration control.
- Conduct system-of-systems engineering and integration across space, ground, launch, communications, and operational mission segments.
- Support architecture development using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Digital Engineering, and mission-thread analysis.
- Evaluate technical baselines, interfaces, system performance, risks, dependencies, and readiness.
- Support program reviews, engineering review boards, configuration control boards, technical interchange meetings, integrated product teams (IPTs), working groups, and milestone reviews.
- Analyze technical discrepancies, anomalies, deficiencies, and interface issues; develop corrective actions and closure documentation.
- Support launch integration, early orbit operations, on-orbit checkout, operational readiness, and transition to sustainment.
- Review and assess contractor engineering products, including Systems Engineering Plans, Interface Control Documents, specifications, verification plans, test reports, risk assessments, and CDRL deliverables.
- Develop and maintain integrated master schedule inputs, critical-path analyses, risk registers, dependency/giver-receiver lists, and mitigation plans.
- Support mission area analysis for Missile Warning, Missile Defense, Battlespace Awareness, and Technical Intelligence.
- Assess the maturity and integration of ground processing, mission data, sensor fusion, command-and-control, and reporting capabilities.
- Support cybersecurity, system safety, mission assurance, resiliency, reliability, maintainability, and program protection activities.
- Coordinate with SSC organizations, mission partners, operational users, USSTRATCOM, the Intelligence Community, Missile Defense Agency, Space Delta 4, and other government and industry stakeholders.
- Prepare executive-level briefings, technical assessments, decision papers, status reports, and acquisition documentation.
- Identify technical, schedule, cost, and performance risks and recommend Courses of Action (COAs).
- Mentor junior engineers and support cross-functional engineering teams.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
