Lead SATCOM Payload Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Lead SATCOM Payload Engineer for the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) program, the next generation of nuclear command, control, and communication (NC3) satellite systems. The role provides technical leadership for payload engineering within an integrated program office supporting the U.S. Space Force. The successful candidate will lead payload engineering across multiple subsystems, advise government customers, and help align acquisition strategies with mission capability requirements. The position leads an experienced payload engineering team and works with Space Force leadership, Aerospace personnel, support contractors, and prime contractors. It provides technical advisement for the mission payload portfolio, including phased array antennas, crosslinks, and modem/digital processing subsystems. The role is full-time and on-site at the Aerospace Corporation facility at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, with travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution, or a related STEM field.
- 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering or scientific experience working across government programs.
- Demonstrated space systems engineering skills, including the ability to explain and present to customers how specific issues relate to the broader program.
- Significant experience with satellite communication hardware and/or digital or analog waveform processing.
- Experience leading cross-organizational technical efforts with a high level of innovation, creativity, and initiative.
- Experience monitoring and assisting with the development of budgets and resource allocations, and initiating acquisition of technical support from appropriate corporate resources.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multidisciplinary teams involving colleagues, government personnel, and contractors.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop technical materials and present to key stakeholders and senior leaders; a writing sample and presentation are required.
- Proven ability to mentor team members by providing technical guidance and development insight.
- Ability to travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required.
- Active Top Secret and SBI clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with mission assurance principles and practices.
- Familiarity with IEEE 15288.2, IEEE Standard for Application of Systems Engineering on Defense Programs.
- Understanding of space system acquisition.
- MILSATCOM program office experience.
- Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with the Engineering & Technology Group (ETG).
- Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or a related field.
Responsibilities
- Lead the Aerospace program office payload team.
- Provide Aerospace leadership and the customer with insight into prime contractor execution status, payload risks, issues, and opportunities.
- Maintain effective working relationships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG, and other supporting contractors.
- Manage allocated resources and prioritize tasking for ETG subject matter experts.
- Collaborate with ETG to deliver technical position papers, design assessments, and briefings addressing technical, cost, and schedule risks related to communications payload design and implementation.
- Act as a senior technical advisor to the Space Force customer on payload architecture and performance.
- Lead or coordinate technical team integration and represent working groups to management and customers.
- Monitor and assess contractor performance and delivery under space, ground, and crypto contracts related to ESS payload design and implementation.
- Apply systems engineering principles in support of program execution.
- Mentor less experienced MTS and serve as a role model.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
- 401(k) plan with company-paid contributions of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
- Relocation assistance.
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Education assistance programs.
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
