Director, Mission Engineering Department

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Professional growth programs

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in the United States is seeking a Director for the Mission Engineering Department. This role focuses on leading architecture conceptualization, assessment, and mission engineering activities across space systems, ground systems, and launch programs.

Candidates should have a strong background in systems engineering, staff development, and program management, with the ability to travel 15-25% and obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, operations research, mathematics, or equivalent
• Typically 10+ years leading engineering studies and analysis teams
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in space/ground/launch/operations domains
• Experience hiring, supervising, mentoring staff and delivering projects on time
• Excellent time-management and ability to manage multiple projects

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the department vision to enhance corporate capabilities
• Scale the department through recruiting, onboarding, coaching, and performance management
• Ensure mission engineering best practices across Aerospace and enterprise systems
• Manage department including staff reviews, resources, and awards
• Serve as primary contact for program office inquiries and plan initiatives
• Foster innovation and collaboration; lead multi-discipline analyst teams
• Identify new partnerships for future mission engineering growth
• Coordinate and manage complex technical tasks among customers
• Collaborate with leadership to build a national organization
• Lead architecture conceptualization, assessment, analysis, and mission engineering activities

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering

Staff management

Stakeholder comms

Project planning

Multi-discipline teamwork

Travel 15-25%

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent

Tools

MBSE

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.

Work Model:

This full-time position requires 100% onsite work in El Segundo CA, Chantilly, VA, or Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Develop and execute the vision for the department, enhancing corporate capabilities to support customer architecture, systems-of-systems, and enterprise decisions.
• Scale the department’s capabilities through recruiting, onboarding, and developing staff via performance management, mentoring, and coaching.
• Ensure the Mission Engineering Department and related corporate activities fully leverage expertise from across Aerospace, incorporating best practices in enterprise systems engineering.
• Manage the department, including staff performance reviews, resource allocation, and personnel management, and recommend performance improvements, career development, personnel actions, and awards.
• Serve as the primary contact for program office inquiries, using mission engineering principles to define problem spaces, develop implementation plans, and identify appropriate personnel based on expertise.
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, maintain robust relationships with peer organizations, and lead multi-discipline analyst teams.
• Identify new partnerships for future mission engineering growth in customer impact.
• Coordinate and manage complex technical tasks among customers, ensuring quality and accuracy of work products.
• Collaborate with subdivision leadership to cultivate an effective national organization.
• Lead technical activities, organize project teams, and execute a variety of architecture conceptualization, assessment, analysis, and mission engineering activities.

What You Need to be a Successful Director, Mission Engineering Department

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and equivalent technical experience
• Typically 10 or more years demonstrated experience leading engineering studies and analysis teams, managing/coordinating complex technical tasks among team members, and translating customer needs into actionable tasks for analysts
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams involving system design, acquisition and/or operations in one or more of the following areas: space systems, ground systems, launch systems, or operations
• Experience in hiring, supervising, developing, mentoring, and inspiring staff
• Proven ability to initiate and lead project teams, develop project plans, identify high-impact deliverables, and manage schedule commitments
• Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to lead cross-functional teams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present methods and results effectively
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt quickly to change, manage ambiguity, and demonstrate initiative under pressure
• Ability to travel approximately 15-25% of the time
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, and the ability to pass a CI Polygraph. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• A graduate degree or extensive work experience relevant fields
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and/or digital engineering
• Experience collaborating with multiple Aerospace program offices and customers
• Strong interpersonal networks within Aerospace and customer organizations
• Military operations experience in the space, air, land, or sea domains
• Experience with Intelligence Community systems engineering and programmatic processes
• Experience with spacecraft, payloads, ground systems, launch systems, missile systems, nuclear weapon systems, and/or aircraft systems
• A proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, customers, and corporate staff

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

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
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.

• 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.