Earth-Orbit Flight Dynamics Section Manager

The Aerospace Corporation • Colorado Springs, CO

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities. As a core component of EED, the Earth-Orbit Flight Dynamics Department provides flight mechanics expertise for launch and space vehicles. This includes expertise in orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. The department is a critical integration partner for a wide range of engineering disciplines to facilitate the company’s mission of providing multi-disciplinary insights. We are looking for a Section Manager to help lead the Contested Operations Section. As a Section Manager , the selected candidate will lead a group of analysts across a variety of mission areas . Core focus areas include contested missions /resiliency tactics development and assessment, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) maneuver analysis, and Dynamic Space Operations (DSO). Furthermore, opportunities exist to partner on efforts with technically adjacent departments to strengthen the entire organization. The selected candidate will help lead department efforts in these areas, providing critical customer interfaces to the operational community, including USSF/ SpOC , STARCOM, OTTI, SPACECOM and NRO components. The Section Manager will be expected to work with EOFFD leadership to fuse these customer needs with important equities across the corporate customer landscape, notably SSC, SpRCO , AFRL, NASA, FAA, and NOAA.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable STEM areas
• 8 years of applicable professional or educational experience
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and lead team efforts, manage projects, and develop staff for new collaborations with internal and external organizations
• Experience with taking Aerospace analytical frameworks and deploying operational prototypes to the user community
• Willingness to travel domestically as necessary
• Current TS/SCI Access

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in an applicable field
• Previous management experience including staff recruitment and development, performance management, conflict resolution, organizational planning, and resource management
• Operations-focused experience, e.g., maneuver planning for real-world missions
• Experience supporting military exercises and wargaming events
• Leveraging or building analysis software to combine numerical methods, flight mechanics, and optimization for launch vehicles, missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, or reentry vehicles
• Experience applying optimization techniques such as nonlinear programming, indirect/direct methods, genetic algorithms, as well as others
• Current TS/SCI and TS/SAP Access

Responsibilities

• Lead geographically distributed teams of analysts and direct reports in developing analysis capabilities, supporting operational communities, and implementing resiliency tactics, techniques, and procedures through workload management, performance assessment, mentoring, and staff development
• Develop relationships with Aerospace Program Offices and US Government customers to identify opportunities, deliver tactical solutions to operational challenges, and prioritize business development, capability awareness, and long-term customer engagement
• Partner with department management to synthesize and execute organizational strategic vision across multiple sections, coordinating cross-functional teams and subdivision partnerships to ensure bench depth and career growth opportunities
• Enhance warfighter training across the space enterprise and cultivate state-of-the-art modeling and simulation capabilities through strategic road mapping and resource integration
• Drive staff retention, recruiting, hiring, and onboarding while pursuing organizational enablers including classified IT resources and clearance portfolios to ensure long-term organizational health

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager