Associate Systems Director - Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

The Aerospace Corporation; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 168,200 - 252,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Paid holidays & vacation

401(k) matching plan

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks an Associate Systems Director for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation to lead independent systems engineering teams and provide programmatic support to DOE/NNSA DNN programs. You will coordinate with the Systems Director and manage cross-site staff to deliver high‑impact technical solutions, while mentoring personnel and guiding strategic growth.

This on-site role in Crystal City, VA requires an active security clearance, strong leadership, and extensive experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, or equivalent technical field
• Twelve or more years of progressively responsible technical, managerial, and/or systems engineering experience
• Demonstrated networking, teaming, management, and leadership skills within a program office or matrixed technical organization
• Demonstrated technical credibility across a broad set of R&D and systems engineering topics
• Ability to work and lead in a satellite office, with distributed resources
• Experience working with DOE/NNSA/DNN, DoW, or DOS
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25% of the time
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance (U.S. citizenship required)
• Currently hold or qualify for active clearance with SCI access

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Aerospace independent systems engineering teams and provide support to DNN programs
• Coordinate a geographically distributed team across multiple sites
• Develop and implement systems engineering processes and practices
• Monitor financial status and advise on actions as needed
• Hire, mentor, and lead staff in project planning, staffing, and delivery
• Build and grow technical teams to ensure quality and timely products
• Engage sponsors and represent Aerospace to customers at all levels
• Identify new opportunities and coordinate R&D activities across offices

Skills

Networking

Leadership

Systems engineering

Program management

Communication skills

Security clearance eligibility

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science/Engineering

Advanced degree in nuclear engineering/physics

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. Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market‑leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer‑facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

We are looking for an Associate Systems Director - Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (Associate Systems Director – Engineering Program Management and Nuclear Engineering).

As an Associate Systems Director in the Civil Systems Group you will be part of an experienced team of scientists, engineers and technical managers working together to advance the mission area of the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN). Specifically, you will collaborate closely with the Systems Director and the rest of the management team to lead and manage Aerospace independent systems engineering teams, provide technical and programmatic support to various DNN programs, develop systems engineering processes and practices, and leverage Aerospace’s vast network of subject matter experts to bring novel solutions to our Nation’s nonproliferation missions. In addition, you will work with the Systems Director to monitor and report on the team’s financial status and provide recommendations for any needed actions. You will leverage your own curiosity, and the strengths of your team to understand complex problems and develop solutions. Additionally, your passions for identifying new opportunities and advancing the careers and experiences of your team demonstrate your commitment to both the customer and your people. This is a supervisory position. The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time, on‑site at our facility in Crystal City, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Work closely with the Systems Director and the rest of the management team to lead and manage Aerospace independent systems engineering teams and technical support to DNN programs within the NNSA.
• Leading, collaborating with, and supporting a geographically distributed Aerospace team located in Arlington VA, Chantilly VA, Albuquerque NM, Cape Canaveral FL, El Segundo CA, and at other Aerospace and remote sites in the performance of their work.
• Network across Aerospace, NNSA, and the Nuclear Enterprise to identify new opportunities.
• Work effectively with sponsors at the NNSA Associate Deputy Administrator level, and counterparts within the NNSA and DOE national laboratories and production sites, and with other government stakeholders including the Department of War and the Department of State to build collaborative teams, support the DNN mission, and develop opportunities.
• Support the development and execution of strategic plans for growth and sustainability by adding value to NNSA through the application of technical and analytical capabilities, subject matter expertise and programmatic knowledge.
• Advise the Director, Office of Proliferation Detection on all aspects of technologies relevant to detecting foreign nuclear proliferation activities.
• Assist with the integration and coordination of research and development activities among the Office of Proliferation Detection, the Office of Nuclear Detonation Detection, and the Nonproliferation Stewardship Program.
• Advise the Aerospace Independent Assessment Team Lead and serve on Independent Assessment panels for select programs and projects across the NA-22 mission space.
• Support independent study and report planning, execution, review, and product delivery.
• Hire, mentor, and lead program office staff in project planning, staffing, execution, and product delivery, and conduct performance reviews and performance management.
• Build and grow technical teams and oversee work execution to ensure quality and completeness of products.
• Engage with sponsor to identify new opportunities and represent the Aerospace corporation to customers at all working and management levels.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in Science, Engineering, or equivalent technical field
• Twelve or more years of progressively responsible technical, managerial, and/or systems engineering experience
• Demonstrated networking, teaming, management, and leadership skills within a program office or matrixed technical organization, building and leading project teams, formulating task plans, ensuring product quality, and effectively interacting with customers.
• Demonstrated technical credibility across a broad set of R&D and systems engineering topics, and a deep understanding of the engineering of complex systems
• Ability to work and lead in a satellite office, and leverage both local and geographically distributed resources, with a passion for advancing your people
• Experience working with U.S. government agencies such as DOE/NNSA/DNN, DoW, or DOS
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal, organizational, political, written, and oral communication skills
• Availability to travel domestically, up to 25% of the time
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree in nuclear engineering or physics with experience in nuclear detection, nuclear survivability, nuclear forensics, nuclear weapons effects, or remote sensing
• Advanced degree in a related engineering, science, or equivalent technical discipline
• Experience in nonproliferation, nuclear and/ or international security and a familiarity with the DOE and NNSA national laboratories
• Knowledge of the Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) skills and capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to create solutions to address national security needs
• Currently hold or qualified for active Q or TS clearance with SCI access

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade‑based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. (Min - Max) $168,200.00 - $252,400.00 Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

The Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site. Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.