Senior Chief Systems Engineer — Space Defense & Acquisitions

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care & wellness

401(k) plan with company match

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Flexible spending accounts

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a senior-level Chief Systems Engineering Lead for the Defense Strategic Space Advanced Capabilities office. The role provides technical leadership across multi‑program acquisitions, with direct interaction with senior leaders and government partners.

On-site in Chantilly, VA, this position requires TS/SCI and SAP/SAR eligibility and US citizenship. You will guide system architecture, risk management, and major reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), while mentoring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science or other applicable degree.
• Experience with development and integration of DoD and/or IC space capabilities, missions, and/or programs in standard and/or rapid acquisition environments.
• Experience with developmental/operational test of DoD and/or IC space capabilities.
• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced & dynamic environment and to work complex problems without clear point solutions.
• Demonstrated strong technical leadership, interpersonal, and team building skills.
• Stellar verbal and written communication skills including the ability to engage and effectively communicate with senior leaders.
• Experience supporting design reviews, Failure Review Boards (FRBs), and Material Review Boards (MRBs).
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 20% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical authority and leadership for multi-program portfolio of proliferated acquisitions.
• Serve as technical lead across organizational boundaries.
• Define and coordinate teams to address difficult technical issues and communicate recommendations to Aerospace and customer management.
• Identify, analyze, and mitigate technical, schedule, or cost risks impacting mission success.
• Lead system architecture definitions, requirements decomposition, and interface control.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Fast-paced environment

Space systems experience

Matrixed organization

Design reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/physics/computer science

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a senior-level Chief Systems Engineering Lead for the Defense Strategic Space Advanced Capabilities office. The role provides technical leadership across multi‑program acquisitions, with direct interaction with senior leaders and government partners.

On-site in Chantilly, VA, this position requires TS/SCI and SAP/SAR eligibility and US citizenship. You will guide system architecture, risk management, and major reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), while mentoring