Senior GEOINT Optical Systems Architect

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) plan with company contributions

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking an Optical System Architect / Project Engineer to lead modeling and simulation efforts for GEOINT futures.

This high‑impact role requires a strong engineering background, active TS clearance, and the ability to work on-site. You will guide architecture trades, mentor teams, and deliver technical recommendations that influence government decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in science, engineering, mathematics or related technical discipline.
• 6+ years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/science experience.
• Technical experience in architecture modeling, orbital mechanics and space systems.
• Familiarity with optical remote sensing missions and payloads.
• Demonstrated capability to address and solve complex challenges.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Active TS security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate domain experts from Aerospace’s Engineering Matrix organization to perform design trades at the payload, vehicle, and constellation level in evaluating future GEOINT architectures.
• Respond to urgent technical questions from multiple agencies, leadership, and Congress.
• Communicate programmatic and technical issues and provide independent recommendations to Aerospace management, the Government customer and other contractors.
• Provide daily organization and technical oversight for task execution, budgeting, and status updates to customer counterparts and management.
• Review contractor proposals and independently evaluate system capabilities against user needs to highlight opportunities and risks.
• Serve as advisor and mentor to SETA, Aerospace, and Customer representatives learning technical aspects of program execution.
• Work in a fast-paced environment with strategy and collaboration to provide solutions.

Education

Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in science, engineering, mathematics or related technical discipline

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking an Optical System Architect / Project Engineer to lead modeling and simulation efforts for GEOINT futures.

This high‑impact role requires a strong engineering background, active TS clearance, and the ability to work on-site. You will guide architecture trades, mentor teams, and deliver technical recommendations that influence government decisions.