eLAB Systems Director

The Aerospace Corporation • Chantilly, VA

12d • Onsite

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. Enterprise Lab (eLab) is an organization in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), which manages two key investment portfolios, Enterprise Aerospace Technical Investment Priorities (ATIP) and Technical and Strategic Investment Priorities (TSIP), as well as overseeing university and strategic R&D partnerships. Overall, eLab has four primary functions: 1) Guide technical investment strategies and priorities; 2) Manage and evolve the Enterprise ATIP and TSIP portfolios; 3) Increase situational awareness and outreach to understand customer needs, the external environment and internal Aerospace capabilities, and provide guidance from those insights back into Aerospace R&D efforts; and 4) Cultivate partnerships that can help drive significant impact to Aerospace’s innovation goals for the space enterprise. The Enterprise ATIP Portfolio is focused on both evolving core capabilities and fueling innovation in strategically important emerging areas of research and development in support of our customers and corporate strategy objectives. The TSIP portfolio reflects our corporation’s top priorities to meet current and emerging customer needs and advance our capabilities. In this role as eLAB S ystems Director , you will act as the eLab portfolio manager, providing strategic oversight, budgetary, and process development across eLab’s responsibilities. You will be key in helping to shape and manage these portfolios and activities with the eLab team. This position can be located in Chantilly, VA., or El Segundo, CA., and is 100% onsite.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field
• Twelve or more years of applicable professional or educational experience
• Track record of working collaboratively and effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders within timelines and to mentor staff
• Experience with project, program, or portfolio management and in managing project schedules
• Proven business and financial acumen and experience in managing dynamic budgets and project allocations
• Willingness to occasionally travel and to work off-business hours to support customer needs, approximately 10% (as required)
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a STEM field or equivalent
• Direct experience conducting and managing R&D portfolios

Responsibilities

• Provide operational management to a $35M internal investments portfolio, ensuring that organizational strategies are well formulated, selected projects are aligned with strategy, and deliverables meet expectations
• Lead regular strategy and concurrence reviews for the eLab portfolios
• Help shape and encourage innovation culture at Aerospace, driving cross-collaborative solutioning
• Serve as a people manager to eLab direct reports, providing oversight to tasking and personnel performance
• Act as a thought partner with the eLab team to evolve our office roles and responsibilities
• Collaborate with the eLab team and corporate leadership and partners to define the Tech Investment Strategic Priorities, strategic roadmaps, lines of effort, and deliverables
• Ensure collection of Performance Metrics across the eLab portfolio, including process improvement and regular reporting to senior leadership
• Work in partnership with program office advisors to ensure coordination between Enterprise and TSIP investments to address customer needs
• Bring technical and innovation expertise and knowledge to help us solve unique and challenging problems to shape our tech investment strategy in a rapidly evolving corporate and customer environment
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports of portfolio performance for eLab, OCTO, and corporate management
• Coordinate marketing and messaging of portfolio highlights for internal and external audiences
• Mentor staff to adopt and implement appropriate situational awareness and collaboration techniques and processes to ensure research is properly scoped and informed relative to the internal/external landscape and customer needs

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: Director