Resilient Ground Architecture (RGA) Systems Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation • El Segundo, CA

8d • $117,300 - $226,900 • Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Defense Systems Group (DSG) is seeking an experienced Resilient Ground Architecture (RGA) Systems Engineer to support the Strategic Missile Warning Ground Infrastructure within an integrated program office involving Air Force, Aerospace, SE&I, SETA, and contractor personnel. RGA is a multi-pillar ground modernization initiative intended to transform how missile warning capabilities are connected, hosted, and distributed across the enterprise.

The selected candidate will apply systems engineering, integration, and acquisition expertise to shape and execute requirements, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and acquisition strategy for this enterprise-wide modernization effort. The work focuses on enabling resilient, scalable, and interoperable ground connectivity and hosting across the missile warning mission area. The position is full-time and on-site at the company’s facility in El Segundo, California.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or a related STEM field from a recognized institution.
• At least 8 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering or scientific experience working across government programs.
• Experience in systems engineering, requirements development, and test and validation.
• Hands-on experience integrating capabilities into operational ground systems.
• Skills in risk and schedule assessment.
• Ability to lead and work effectively in multidisciplinary teams spanning Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel.
• Excellent verbal and written interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel to contractor and vendor facilities as needed.
• Active Secret clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• For the Senior Project Engineer level: at least 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering or scientific experience working across government programs.
• For the Senior Project Engineer level: leadership experience in programs and projects involving systems engineering, requirements development, and test and validation.
• For the Senior Project Engineer level: experience leading and working effectively in multidisciplinary teams spanning Aerospace, government, and contractor personnel.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or a related field.
• Direct experience in the Missile Warning or Tracking mission area; familiarity with SBIRS, OPIR/NGG, S2E2, or FORGE systems is a bonus.
• Experience developing ground system acquisition strategies, including ACAT program structuring, milestone planning, or acquisition documentation such as ADMs and AoAs.
• Deep familiarity with enterprise ground modernization and resiliency, including integration across cloud infrastructure, distributed hosting, or data and connectivity architecture.
• Demonstrated experience developing CONOPS and requirements for complex, multi-stakeholder resilient ground systems.
• Solid understanding of ground system acquisition processes and lifecycle milestones.
• Experience working within software agile processes.
• Ability to optimize system-level trade-offs among cost, schedule, performance, and risk.
• Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with the Engineering & Technology Group (ETG).
• Ability to obtain or currently hold a TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine RGA requirements, architecture trades, and CONOPS across connectivity, hosting, and data distribution modernization pillars.
• Represent RGA on ground and system-level Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) teams across the missile warning ground enterprise.
• Support development of the acquisition strategy, including documentation, milestone planning, and program structuring.
• Evaluate contractor proposals and deliverables; represent the Ground Segment in architecture reviews, test definition, and integration planning.
• Conduct system-level trades and analyses informing decisions about enterprise connectivity, cloud and hosting infrastructure, and distributed ground architecture.
• Advise Aerospace leadership and the customer on risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies as RGA progresses from concept to acquisition.
• Support integration planning that bridges legacy systems and next-generation architecture while maintaining backward compatibility and mission continuity.
• Build and sustain partnerships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG, and supporting teams across the missile warning enterprise.

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 benefits 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.

What This Job Offers

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