Senior Project Leader – Space Forces Component Operations Lead

The Aerospace Corporation; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 156,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays, sick time and vacation

Telework options

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Senior Project Leader – Space Forces Component Operations Lead in Colorado Springs, CO. You will guide Space Warfighting Directorate efforts, translate component needs into Aerospace analyses, and supervise multidiscipinary teams focused on USSF space operations and related missions.

Required are 12+ years in space systems, strong leadership, and a Top Secret/SCI clearance or eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, operations, or other technical or military science discipline.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible technical or operational space experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and large analyses in operational contexts.
• Knowledge of USSF warfighting capabilities and C2 concepts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior operational lead for USSF Space Component Field Commands.
• Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams and translate operational needs into technical work.
• Develop concepts and studies for USSF capabilities supporting component missions.
• Coordinate with USSF, USSPACECOM, and other stakeholders to align efforts and priorities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Verbal and written communication

Multidisciplinary coordination

Operational planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, operations, or other technical or military science

Tools

SSBI/Top Secret/SCI clearance

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. 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 Materiel 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. As part of the Space Enterprise and Warfighting Division, our Space Warfighting Directorate provides high‑quality analytic support to the United States Space Force (USSF), United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), and the USSF Space Component Field Commands. This position serves as aSenior Project Leader – Space Forces Component Operations Lead, based inColorado Springs, CO, with strong ties to the Component Field Commands and the broader Aerospace backplane. We are seeking an experienced subject matter expert and highly motivated senior leader to helpbridge operations and engineering – ensuring Aerospace’s technical space domain expertise and analytic rigor are focused on the most important problems facing the USSF Space Component Field Commands. The candidate will work as part of aleadership teamwithin the Space Warfighting Directorate to understand, prioritize, and translate component operational needs into Aerospace analysis, modeling, and concept work that delivers maximum value to our customers in space and joint warfighting. This is an 100% on-site based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

What You’ll Be Doing

Serve as Aerospace’ssenior operational lead for USSF Space Component Field Commands, with an initial focus on SPACEFOR‑PAC, SPACEFOR‑CENT, SOCOM Space Element, and SPACEFOR‑SPACE (S4S), while leading buildup of Aerospace support to SPACEFOR‑EURAF, ‑SOUTH, and ‑NORTH.

• Maintain acontinuous operational pictureof component needs and priorities, including: Missions, OPLANs, named operations, and major exercises
• How components interact with CSpOC, NSDC, JOPC, and other service Operational Centers
• Act as acoherent “voice on space warfighting”in coordination with USSF and USSPACECOM perspectives, helping clarify roles and expectations when the enterprise asks questions about: Forces presented by the Service and supported/supporting relationships in joint warfighting

Work as part of aSpace Warfighting leadership teamto:

• Understand and maintain aprioritized set of component needs, focus Aerospace resources on the hardest, most consequential problems in space and joint warfighting, and ensure the broader Aerospace backplane (Engineering and Technology Group, Civil Support Group, National Systems Group, program offices) is aligned on those priorities
• As Aerospace’s representative in component environments,translate operational needs into technical work, including: clear analysis questions and decision points, modeling and simulation tasks, and concepts for tools, prototypes, and operational constructs that can be evaluated in exercises and real‑world operations
• Lead or coordinatemultidisciplinary teams of technical contributorssupporting component operations, analysis, and planning; provide operational context, prioritize tasks, and facilitate communications across Aerospace and government stakeholders
• Serve as asenior mentor and integratorfor Aerospace personnel embedded at Component Field Commands (e.g., SPACECENT) and supporting from reachback
• Support planning and execution of space operations in component, CCMD, and joint venues
• Coordinate technical efforts across program/project lines, leveraging Aerospace expertise todevelop component-relevant space employment concepts and mission threads, and conduct concept exploration and program definition studies for USSF capabilities supporting component and CCMD missions
• Advocate for component space requirements and evaluate future space system capabilities from an operational perspective, helping component staffs define space capability needs to support warfighting plans and objectives
• Network and collaborate across USSF, USSPACECOM, other Services, government agencies, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA contractors to maintain awareness of ongoing efforts relevant to components and mission centers, and identify opportunities to align Aerospace work for best value and impact on the customers' hardest problems

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Senior Project Leader - Technical Project Management

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, operations, or other technical or military science discipline from a recognized institution
• Minimumof 12 years of progressively responsible technical or operational experiencein space systems, space operations, theater/joint military operations, systems integration, or a combination of these areas
• Demonstrated ability tolead or coordinate multidisciplinary teamsand manage major program segments or large analyses in an operational context
• Functional awareness / working knowledge ofUSSF warfighting capabilities and operations, including how space capabilities are presented by the Service and employed by USSPACECOM and Component Commands
• Experience withoperations of space systems and/or command and controlin a joint warfighting environment, including familiarity with supported/supporting relationships across CCMDs
• Understanding oftheater space interaction within JADC2, CSpOC, NSDC, and component headquarters, and how those organizations coordinate during competition, crisis, and conflict
• Background in one or more of the following mission areas:missile warning/OPIR, space domain awareness, space electromagnetic warfare, SATCOM, NAVWAR, or BMC2
• Proven ability to serve as atrusted advisor and spokespersonto senior military and civilian leaders
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and familiarity with Department of Defense (DoD) acronyms, processes, and joint terminology
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintaineffective working relationships with customers at all levels, including senior military and civilian leaders
• Proven ability to network, build, and work withindiverse, multi‑disciplinary teamsacross organizations and geographic locations
• A current SSBI and possess (or be immediately eligible for) aTop Secret/SCIclearance and access, issued by the U.S. Government
• Ability to travel domestically (and occasionally internationally) to Component Field Commands, CCMD, and other customer locations

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degreein a technical discipline (engineering, physics, mathematics, space operations, or related field)
• Active‑duty military experience in space operations, joint operations, or senior enlisted / officer leadership roles
• Direct experience withUSSF Space Component Field Commands, CSpOC/NSDC, or USSPACECOM headquarters
• Experience inCENTCOM, INDOPACOM, EUCOM, NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, SOCOM, STRATCOM, or CYBERCOMoperations
• Experience in or with Joint Staff and/or Combatant Command strategic and operational planning processes
• Deep operational and/or technical experience with one or more USSF capability areas (e.g., SDA, EW, SATCOM, NAVWAR, MW/OPIR, C2/BM)
• Experience and understanding of theUSSF and USSPACECOM approaches to warfighting and readiness, including the interplay between Service force presentation and CCMD supported/supporting relationships
• Knowledge of man‑made threats to the space domain and how they manifest in component and theater operations
• Familiarity with Aerospace’s analytic and engineering capabilities or similar “backplane” organizations
• Experience working large, complex issues and the ability to break down problems into meaningful steps to accomplish with a team
• Track record ofmentoring and developing junior technical and operational staff
• Current applicable SAP/SAR accesses

We offer a competitive compensation package

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) $155,900.00 - $233,900.00 Pay Basis: Annual

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

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.

Additional Information

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.

U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.