Space Control Systems Director
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a technically rigorous leader to head the Space Control Department within the Mission Integration Subdivision, supporting the Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO). The role leads a team of mission engineers addressing complex integration problems in contested space and coordinating closely with Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM). The team identifies risks, issues, and gaps between current architectures and required capabilities, drives their resolution with partners across the national security space enterprise, and establishes enterprise requirements. The Systems Director provides technical leadership for the Integrated Assessment, helping senior leaders determine whether and how well critical mission threads will close. The position shapes mission-thread architecture, informs the enterprise schedule, and leads the department’s transition toward digital engineering. The work is performed in close collaboration with government counterparts and partner teams. Full-time on-site presence at the El Segundo, California facility is required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or a related technical field.
- At least 10 years of experience in National Security Space systems in engineering, technical, or operational work.
- Ability to work through ambiguous problems with minimal direction and pivot quickly as priorities change.
- Ability to influence outcomes and drive results without formal authority, collaborate across organizations, and manage competing priorities.
- Experience empowering teams and delivering candid, timely feedback.
- Strong background in systems engineering and Systems of Systems Engineering (SoSE) for space systems.
- Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10–15%.
- Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance and ability to obtain Special Access Program (SAP) accesses, issued by the U.S. government.
- U.S. citizenship, required to obtain a security clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s or PhD degree from an accredited program in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or another applicable technical field.
- Experience with digital engineering or model-based systems engineering, including presenting technical change proposals to a configuration control board and coordinating with Integrated Master Schedule development.
- Familiarity with space architecture frameworks (as-is, programmed, target) and deep understanding of contested space operations.
- Prior Aerospace management experience building and leading integrated government, FFRDC, and SETA teams.
- Current SAP/SAR accesses.
Responsibilities
- Lead Systems of Systems Engineering for contested space mission threads; identify risks, issues, and gaps, and advocate across enterprise stakeholders for prioritization and resources to close them.
- Identify enterprise requirements and present them to the Configuration Control Board to update the technical baseline.
- Provide technical leadership for the Integrated Assessment across mission threads, incorporating STARCOM test, exercise, and analysis results and determining whether and how well each mission thread closes.
- Contribute milestones and inputs to the enterprise Integrated Master Schedule.
- Shape the as-is, programmed, and approximately five-year target architecture for assigned mission threads, aligned with SSIO efforts.
- Provide technical input for digital modeling of mission engineering work and quality-control the results.
- Lead and manage the department, including empowering and delegating to team members, providing candid feedback, and overseeing hiring, staffing, budgeting, performance reviews, and recognition.
- Consider financial and enterprise impact in decision-making, champion approaches such as digital engineering and AI, and adapt as duties evolve.
- Collaborate closely with C3BM, government counterparts, and partners across the national security space 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 a company-paid benefit 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
Director
