Commercial Modeling & Simulation Lead

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Flexible work schedules with telework

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Modeling & Simulation Lead (Project Engineer/Senior Project Engineer) to guide architecture modeling for national security programs. This on-site role involves leading teams, coordinating with government customers, and evaluating commercial space services for integration into IC architectures.

The position requires extensive modeling experience, strong communication, and the ability to manage diverse teams across organizations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science field.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant technical experience.
• Technical understanding of space-based architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead modeling and simulation efforts to evaluate commercial space system integration.
• Communicate programmatic and technical issues and provide independent recommendations.
• Interact with non-traditional space sector commercial companies for insights.
• Provide daily organization and technical oversight for task execution and budgets.
• Collaborate across the NRO and Intelligence Community to influence investments.
• Lead technical staff and matrixed resources across topics.

Skills

Modeling & Simulation

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Modeling tools

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.

The National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch. The Imagery Programs Division’s (IPD) Commercial Acquisition & Integration department is seeking a Modeling & Simulation Lead (Project Engineer/Senior Project Engineer – Modeling & Simulation Engineering) to be a key member of the Aerospace team. This position directly supports the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO) whose mission is to investigate the capabilities of non-traditional space-based commercial capabilities for integration into the IC government architecture. We are seeking an experienced architecture modeling professional to support the government in acquiring and integrating commercial services into the NRO enterprise architecture. This role places you at the intersection of commercial space innovation and national security, where you will work directly with emerging space companies to evaluate and integrate transformative capabilities into critical defense systems. You will gain unique exposure to technologies reshaping the space domain while influencing how commercial innovation strengthens national security architecture. This position offers exceptional professional development opportunities and the chance to shape the future of space‑based national security capabilities.

The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time on‑site at our facility in Chantilly, Virginia.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead modeling and simulation efforts to evaluate commercial space system integration into national security architectures, supporting architecture analyses, trade studies, and acquisition decisions.
• Communicate programmatic and technical issues and provide independent recommendations to Aerospace management, the Government customer and other contractors.
• Interact extensively with non‑traditional space sector commercial companies, gaining deep exposure to innovative and emerging technologies.
• Provide daily organization and technical oversight for task execution, managing pertinent budgets, regularly communicate status and findings to customer counterparts and management.
• Collaborate across the NRO and the Intelligence community to influence current and future investments in commercial technology and capabilities.
• Lead technical staff and matrixed technical resources to address a broad range of technical topics.
• Work in a fast‑paced environment with many interesting technical challenges that require strategy, critical thinking and collaboration to provide solutions.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer – Modeling and Simulation Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering, mathematics, or science field
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant technical experience
• Technical understanding of space‑based architectures
• Demonstrated experience with modeling tools in support of architecture, analysis of alternatives and space‑based vendor acquisitions
• Capability to address and solve complex challenges through analytical modeling and simulation approaches
• Strong organization and communication skills
• Experience in leading technical teams with diverse backgrounds from a variety of organizations
• Willing to support occasional travel domestically (typically 1 week every few months or less)

This position requires a current and active TS/SBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Minimum requirements for the Senior Project Engineer – Modeling and Simulation Engineering:

• Ten years of experience relevant technical experience
• Proficiency with Aerospace modeling tools and frameworks for system performance evaluation
• Technical depth and experience evaluating space‑based sensors and phenomenologies
• Specific experience with modeling space‑based commercial radar, Electro‑Optical, or commercial hyperspectral capabilities
• Technical experience either working for or with commercial space companies

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree in relevant engineering, mathematics or science field
• 12 or more years of relevant technical experience
• Expertise in advanced modeling and simulation techniques
• Track record of using modeling and simulation to inform acquisition decisions and architecture optimization
• Experience evaluating emerging commercial technologies through simulation and analysis
• Prior experience as the lead for matrixed teams with diverse skill sets to solve multi‑disciplinary challenges
• Knowledge of relevant Aerospace resources to support architectural and optimization tasks

We offer a competitive compensation package

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) $117,300.00 - $226,900.00 Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who: Operate Strategically Lead Change Engaged with Impact Foster Innovation Deliver Results Ways

Benefits

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• 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

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

Right Path 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.

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