2027 Systems Architect

aero; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Senior Member of Technical Staff in the Enterprise Systems Engineering area to lead architecture studies, apply MBSE practices, and assess system concepts across space programs. This role requires strong communication, cross‑functional leadership, and the ability to work with government and industry partners.

You will mentor junior staff, coordinate with program offices and customers, and contribute to scoping and planning of studies, while maintaining

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, science, or related field (or pursuing/completed within last 12 months).
• 0-1 year of industry experience.
• Experience in system/enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, or MBSE.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for briefings/reports.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills with diverse collaborators.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally ~5–10%.
• Access to TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture studies of varying complexity with multidisciplinary teams.
• Develop and apply disciplined architecture methods and tools.
• Evaluate concepts for cost, schedule, performance, risk, and resilience.
• Implement MBSE and digital engineering capabilities.
• Collaborate with program office, customers, and contractors; mentor junior staff.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal and networking skills

Self-learning

Travel willingness

Education

PhD in engineering, science, or related field

Tools

MBSE & Digital Engineering

Job description

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.

Systems Architect - Senior Member of Technical Staff

Enterprise Systems Engineering / Architect Advancement Section

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace's strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space-enabled mission effects.

The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon) provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Space Security (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others. ArCon staff participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains. ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions.

Work Model: This position will follow an in-person work model with a minimum of 4 days per week of onsite work required at one of Aerospace's campuses in Chantilly, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; or El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and participate in architecture studies of varying system complexity, to include multi-disciplinary engineering teams, problem framing, gap analysis, and trade space assessment
• Apply and develop disciplined system architecting methods, processes, and tools in a broad range of architecture-level assessment, modeling, analysis, and conceptual design activities
• Use, develop, and integrate analytical methods and tools to evaluate architectural concepts and system conceptual designs for cost, schedule, performance, risk, and resilience to disruptive events or threats, and other characteristics
• Utilize innovative methods, processes, and tools to architect and implement model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering (DE) capabilities
• Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel as a technical subject matter expert to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; mentor junior staff; support the scoping, planning, and execution of the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports
• Collaborate with other Aerospace personnel to marshal technical expertise in multiple technical disciplines and domains to enable concurrent engineering approaches to address complex problems

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff :

• PhD in engineering, science, or related technical field (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 year of industry experience
• Experience/coursework/projects in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills and ability to work effectively with a diverse set of collaborators
• Ability to learn new skills and acquire knowledge through self-study and proactive engagement with mentors and subject matter experts
• Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Transcripts required for this position

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products
• Experience with space system architecture conceptual design, analysis, and concurrent engineering techniques
• Relevant work and/or graduate school experience in spacecraft, payloads, ground systems, launch s