Senior Space Technology Development Lead

aero; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care plans

Paid holidays and vacation

Telework options

Relocation assistance

401(k) plan with company match

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Research and Development Senior Project Leader (Sr. Project Leader – Multi – Disciplinary Engineering) to drive R&D across a national security space portfolio.

This full-time onsite role in Chantilly partners with government and industry on innovative space technologies and cross-phenomenology systems. You will lead labs, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and mentor staff while interfacing with government officials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of relevant experience after bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in R&D of new technologies for space systems (e.g., microelectronics, optical sensors, RF).
• Extensive technical project management experience with inter-disciplinary teams.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Conceive and lead laboratory investigations, modeling and simulation, and technical assessments.
• Coordinate across Aerospace experts to scope and guide R&D of advanced technologies for overhead intelligence collection.
• Evaluate impact of new concepts and CONOPs on national security space architecture.
• Distill varied inputs into rigorous analyses to inform government investments.
• Mentor junior staff and interface with government officials and contractors in a fast-paced team.
• Occasional travel up to 10%.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

R&D in space systems

TS/SCI clearance

Stakeholder communication

Modeling & simulation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering

Advanced degree (preferred)

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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

The Advanced Research and Engineering (AR&E) subdivision leads Aerospace support to the R&D portfolio of a major intelligence agency. AR&E is looking for a Research and Development Senior Project Leader (Sr. Project Leader – Multi – Disciplinary Engineering) to leverage expertise across the corporation to research, develop, and demonstrate next generation space technologies in support of this influential customer. In this role, you will have the opportunity to impact the direction of this National Security Space portfolio, advising the customer on the advancement of critical technologies spanning cross-phenomenology overhead intelligence systems, the ground and communications enterprise, and the effective utilization of autonomy and machine learning.

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly, which requires 100% onsite work.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conceiving and leading laboratory investigations, modeling and simulation, and technical assessment activities across the customer portfolio.
• Leveraging Aerospace experts across the corporation to scope, direct, and integrate technical analysis in support of research and development of advanced technologies for overhead intelligence collection and processing.
• Leading efforts to evaluate the impact of new concepts, technologies, and CONOPs on the national security space architecture.
• Distilling varied inputs into rigorous technical analyses to inform government decisions on future technology and demonstration system investments.
• Acting as a senior mentor to other team members.
• Interfacing daily with mid- and senior-level government officials, SETA, and contractor personnel as part of a small team in a fast-paced environment.
• Occasional travel, up to 10% of the time.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Sr. Project Leader – Multi-Disciplinary Engineering

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 12 or more years of relevant experience after bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in research and development of new technologies for space systems, such as microelectronics, optical sensors, or RF systems.
• Extensive experience in technical project management, scoping projects and leveraging inter-disciplinary teams.
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI security clearance and polygraph, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Direct experience with government or commercial space systems.
• Experience in space-relevant technology areas such as:
  • Microelectronics design, fabrication, assembly, or testing
  • Optical and RF remote sensing technologies and applications including photonics
  • AI/ML and autonomy
  • Quantum sensing and communications

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 - $233,900.00Pay Basis: Annual

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 vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• 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 equalopportunity 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,geneticinformation, 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 [e-mail] .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.