Director, AI Systems and Delivery (Deputy Lead, AI Integration)

The Aerospace Corporation•El Segundo, CA

8d•$185,100 - $277,600•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation, a trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, is seeking a Department Director to lead the AI Systems and Delivery organization within the Digital Innovation Division. This role also serves as the deputy lead for AI Integration, reporting to the Corporate Technical Fellow for Artificial Intelligence. As the corporate AI portfolio expands, this position will oversee the people, architecture standards, release decisions, and the cost and schedule performance of engineering investments. The Digital Innovation Division is responsible for generating and executing integrated strategies, providing governance, and managing internal investments that underpin Aerospace’s digital transformation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, Information Systems, Operations, STEM or a related technical field, or equivalent work experience.
10 years of progressive experience in AI/ML engineering, AI systems architecture, digital transformation, or enterprise technical delivery, including significant experience delivering platforms in regulated or accredited environments.
4+ years in a people-management role, including direct supervision of technical staff and full employee performance management.
Demonstrated accountability for a technical portfolio at multi-million dollar scale, including setting priorities and defending a plan to executive leadership.
Working depth in AI/ML platform and orchestration concepts sufficient to set standards and arbitrate architecture decisions, including MLOps practice, model and agent lifecycle management, data pipelines, and containerized deployment (e.g., Kubernetes, Airflow, Kafka, Spark).
Strong understanding of cloud data and AI platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), with practical familiarity in the Azure data and AI ecosystem.
Proven experience delivering capability on accredited networks at more than one classification level.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate strategic intent into actionable direction.
Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a STEM or other technical discipline.
15+ years in AI engineering, applied AI/ML, AI architecture, or data operations, with 5+ years managing technical teams and managing managers or leads.
Direct mission experience in the national space domain, missile defense, or remote sensing.
Experience standing up an AI evaluation or assurance function, including documented release criteria and a defensible record of capability declined or withdrawn.
Experience extending an enterprise AI platform onto an accredited classified network.
Experience building a technical organization from a small team through sustained headcount growth, including developing first-line leads.
Experience serving as a deputy or chief of staff to a senior technical executive, carrying delegated authority in their absence.
Experience launching new programs or capability areas before requirements, funding, or customer scope were fully defined.
Current DoD TS and SSBI/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as deputy to the Corporate Technical Fellow for Artificial Intelligence for the AI Integration organization, carrying delegated decision authority and representing the organization in the Fellow's absence.
Own the operating cadence for the corporate AI portfolio, including intake, prioritization, milestone review, and governance and funding decisions.
Set and enforce the technical baseline for AI systems delivery.
Own the evaluation and release gate for AI capability, including model and agent assurance, red-teaming, and release decisions.
Lead new AI initiatives from their earliest stages, from stated intent through scope, requirements, and a funded plan, transitioning them to steady-state owners.
Direct the extension and sustainment of AI capability across multiple classification levels, including accredited classified networks, and own the delivery plan for cross-domain AI work.
Operationalize standards set by the Generative AI Council into repeatable, auditable release criteria and report evaluation outcomes to governance bodies.

Benefits

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