Future Architectures Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Huntsville (TN); On-site; USD 117,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Professional growth and development

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Future Architectures Engineer to guide development and assessment of next‑generation defense capabilities at our Huntsville, AL facility. You will assess architectures for missile defense, lead teams of subject matter experts, and advise program offices with technical analyses and strategic recommendations.

The role requires strong technical leadership, experience in system engineering, and the ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or higher in engineering, physics, mathematics, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant technical experience, with missile defense architecture exposure.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams through complex analyses.

Responsibilities

• Perform and lead complex technical assessments of architecture design options.
• Assemble and direct teams of Aerospace SMEs for evaluating capabilities ( sensors, weapons, BMD, C2).
• Develop in-depth technical analyses and gain customer approval.

Skills

Architecture design

System-level analysis

Trade studies

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/physics/mathematics

Tools

PowerPoint

Data visualization

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation

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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

Future Architectures Engineer

We are looking for a Future Architectures Engineer, who will be instrumental in guiding the development and assessment of next-generation defense capabilities. In this role, you will apply your engineering expertise to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). This is a unique opportunity to work with a diverse team of subject matter experts on development and assessment of missile defense architectures supporting Next generation Missile Defense and Golden Dome for America that are critical to our national security. You will be at the forefront of innovation, shaping the future of missile defense by assessing existing and proposed systems for new applications and providing assessment and recommendations for next-generation architectures.

You will be involved with the design and development of next generation missile defense capabilities that will inform strategic decisions and ensure the nation maintains its technological advantage.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility in Huntsville, AL.

What You’ll Be Doing

Perform and lead complex technical assessments of architecture design options to inform customer decisions on critical defense programs.

Assemble and direct teams of Aerospace subject matter experts to evaluate a wide range of capabilities, to include sensors (RF and EO/IR), weapons systems, battle management and fire control.

Act as a trusted advisor and technical facilitator to MDA program offices, providing direct expert consultation when needed, while seamlessly coordinating and guiding Aerospace SMEs to ensure the delivery of high-impact technical solutions.

Develop, coordinate, and gain approval for in-depth technical analyses, ensuring our efforts deliver maximum value to the customer.

Frame complex problems and execute focused studies both independently and collaboratively with government customers and internal teams.

Operate strategically by identifying and developing solutions for the MDA's most challenging problems.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer - Enterprise System Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical discipline (e.g., aerospace, electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering).

8 or more years of relevant technical experience, with some exposure to missile defense architecture or related mission areas.

Demonstrated experience with architecture design, system-level analysis and trade studies, and evaluation of new systems contribution to system-of-systems architectures.

Proven ability to coordinate and lead multidisciplinary technical teams through complex analyses to solve challenging aerospace or defense-related problems.

Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with geographically dispersed teams to ensure timely responses to urgent customer tasking.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively brief senior Customer, Contractor, and Aerospace management, supported by proficiency in presentation tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint and analysis visualizations.

Demonstrated ability to solve ambiguous problems and work proactively within a dynamic environment where priorities may change.

Willingness to travel occasionally to other work locations or customer sites as required.

This position requires an active Secret security clearance and the ability to be cleared for SAP/SAR access and TS/SCI, which are issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer - Enterprise System Engineering

12 or more years of relevant technical experience, with some exposure to missile defense architecture or related mission areas.

Experience with architecture design, system-level analysis and trade studies, and evaluation of new systems contribution to system-of-systems architectures.

Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams through complex analyses to solve challenging aerospace or defense-related problems.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Direct experience with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) or within the missile defense mission area.
• Proven ability to build consensus and establish effective working relationships in a matrixed environment, with a strong aptitude for anticipating customer needs and building trust.
• A broad technical understanding across multiple domains, such as space systems, command and control (C2), communications, and various sensing modalities, and how they integrate into a cohesive system-of-systems.
• Deep experience in mission-level Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) to perform trade studies that evaluate the operational performance and effectiveness of enterprise-wide architectures.
• A currently active Top Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP/SAR access.

Competitive Compensation

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 - $175,900.00 Pay Basis: Annual Leadership Competencies

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

• 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

Inclusive Work Environment

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] .

Locations and Opportunities

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.

Our Mission

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.

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.