Ground System Architect Engineer/Sr. Ground System Architect Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health care plans

401(k) plan

Telework options

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA (onsite) seeks a Senior Engineering Specialist to lead system architecture studies and collaborate with cross‑functional teams across space, ground, and cyber domains.

Required are a BS in engineering and 6+ years in space/defense engineering, plus expert knowledge in MBSE methods, ground systems, and effective communication with program offices. Domestic and international travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field.
• Typically, at least 6 years of engineering experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains.
• Proficiency in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering.
• Demonstrated experience in ground system development, mission control, or mission processing for space systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings and reports.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with teams, customers, program offices, and contractors.
• Exceptional time-management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and schedules.
• Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%.
• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in system architecture studies of ground system concepts, including multi-disciplinary teams and trade space assessment.
• Engage with Aerospace program offices, customers, and contractors as a technical SME to elicit needs, plan studies, and communicate results.
• Define system capabilities, interfaces, and requirements for space/ground/intersegment architectures addressing user needs.
• Collaborate with Aerospace personnel to marshal expertise for concurrent engineering across disciplines.

Skills

Systems engineering

Enterprise architecting

SysML/UAF/UPDM modelling

Ground system development

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering or related field

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED)

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 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 and space-enabled capabilities.

The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon)

The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon) provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Security Space (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 system architecture studies of ground system concepts, to include multi-disciplinary engineering teams, supporting problem framing, gap analysis, and trade space assessment
• 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
• Define system capabilities, system of systems interfaces, and requirements for space, ground, or intersegment system architectures to address user needs and perspectives
• 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 Engineering Specialist

• Bachelor of Science degree engineering, science, or a related technical field
• Typically, at least 6 years of engineering experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains
• Proficiency in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering
• Demonstrated experience in ground system development, mission control, or mission processing for space systems
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with teams, customers, Aerospace program offices, and contractors; to collaborate with other functional organizations within Aerospace; and to mentor and develop junior staff
• Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and schedule commitments
• Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%
• This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Minimum Requirements for Senior Engineering Specialist

• Typically, at least 12 years of substantive experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains
• Ability to identify problem space, assess trade options, and independently formulate courses of action
• Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products
• Experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior-level management and technical architecture design artifacts for engineering-level reviews
• Ability to collaborate with employees, customers, acquisition program offices, and contractors

You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline
• More relevant work and/or graduate school experience, greater than 5 years, in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, or model-based systems engineering
• More relevant work and/or graduate school experience, greater than 5 years, in space or ground systems.
• Experience in ground system architectures, command and control, system of systems engineering, or system test and training are desired.
• Experience with the Satellite Control Network (SCN) or Intelligence Community ground control networks
• Experience with telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) or tactical command and control (C2)
• Hands‑on experience with system or enterprise modeling in the Systems Modeling Language (SysML), Unified Architecture Framework (UAF), or Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM)
• Experience working closely with key Aerospace customer agencies in the defense and intelligence community, including strong knowledge of their domain and strong professional networks

Compensation

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

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

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

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].

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

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.