Technical Project Engineer , Software Portfolio & Program Integration

The Aerospace Corporation•El Segundo, CA

14d•$129,000 - $193,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Technical Project Engineer to provide visibility, coordination, and strategic support across the Software Tools & Assurance Department’s portfolio of programs and projects. This is a technical program management role grounded in software delivery experience. The engineer will partner with technical leads across concurrent projects to understand architecture, delivery health, and schedule risks, communicate project status to leadership, and help management prioritize attention and resources. The role also contributes to the evolution of the portfolio and the department’s customer engagement strategy. The position is within the Information Systems and Cyber Division, which integrates modern software technologies and expertise in areas including cybersecurity, software architecture and engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, process improvement, and software development. The Software Tools & Assurance Department focuses on modern software and digital engineering practices, including cloud platforms, microservices, workflow automation, and system modernization. This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, California, or Albuquerque, New Mexico. Occasional domestic travel to other work locations or customer sites is required. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. The hiring level may be Project Engineer (L2) or Senior Project Engineer (L3), with the senior level requiring at least 12 years of relevant experience and demonstrated leadership of complex software programs and portfolio organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable STEM area or another discipline.
At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering, software architecture, or technical program/project management for the Project Engineer level.
For the Senior Project Engineer level, at least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering, software architecture, or technical program/project management.
Demonstrated experience in software architecture, design, CI/CD, and Agile delivery practices sufficient to engage credibly with technical leads about project health and risk.
Experience tracking, synthesizing, and reporting status across multiple concurrent projects or workstreams to leadership.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical details into clear management narratives about status, risk, and opportunity.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and build relationships across technical teams that do not report to you.
Willingness to travel occasionally to other domestic work locations or customer sites.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain clearance.
For the Senior Project Engineer level, a track record of leading or coordinating delivery of multiple complex software programs simultaneously, including direct engagement with program and department leadership.
For the Senior Project Engineer level, demonstrated ability to independently shape how a portfolio of projects is organized, prioritized, and resourced.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM or related technical field.
Prior experience as a Technical Program Manager, Project Manager, or in a similar role spanning multiple software products or programs.
Experience leading ground segment programs for DoW missions.
Hands-on experience with software architecture, design, CI/CD pipelines such as Jenkins, or cloud and microservices environments.
Experience building or operating portfolio-level status reporting, dashboards, or governance processes for engineering leadership.
Experience shaping customer engagement strategy or business development across a portfolio of programs.
PMP, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Scrum Product Owner, or equivalent certification.
Ability to bring industry knowledge of modern software and program management practices to drive innovation within established teams.
Strong track record of building, mentoring, and leading technical teams or working groups from the ground up.
Active TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

Gather and synthesize status across the department’s ongoing programs and projects, maintaining an accurate consolidated view for department and subdivision leadership.
Identify project blockers, risks, resource conflicts, and emerging opportunities, and escalate them to management with relevant context.
Partner with technical leads across concurrent projects to understand architecture decisions, delivery health, and schedule risks and accurately represent project status.
Help leadership organize, prioritize, and evolve the portfolio, including how projects are grouped, staffed, and sequenced.
Establish and refine recurring portfolio reporting mechanisms, including status reviews, dashboards, and reports.
Contribute to customer engagement strategy across the portfolio and identify cross-project patterns that inform future strategy.
Champion modern software development methodologies and introduce perspectives and practices that promote positive change.
Mentor junior engineers.
At the Senior Project Engineer level, lead or coordinate delivery of multiple complex software programs simultaneously and independently help shape portfolio organization, prioritization, and resourcing.

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