Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Chief Software Integration Engineer

aero; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Principal Engineer for Cloud Computing Architecture and Software Architecture Engineering to modernize legacy SDA systems. You will work directly with Government Program Managers and contractor personnel to implement secure, scalable software across the SDA enterprise, with travel and clearance requirements.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and delivering enterprise-grade software solutions, while ensuring long-term

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent.
• 15+ years of experience in software integration, software acquisition, agile, network engineering, and/or cloud technologies.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple government stakeholders and drive adoption of solutions.
• Experience delivering software solutions to the enterprise.
• Deep understanding of software and sensor architecture to guide acquisition leadership.

Responsibilities

• Act as the SDA Chief Software Integration Engineer, collaborating with Government Program Managers and other stakeholders.
• Prioritize implementation across diverse interests to achieve general agreement.
• Guide acquisition strategy for reliable and modern warfighter capabilities.
• Address political, vendor lock-in, and technical conflicts to improve SDA capabilities.
• Lead teams in risk reduction R&D and ensure long-term sustainment of implementations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Technical leadership

Verbal and written communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Software integration tools

Cloud computing

Agile methodologies

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 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 Material 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.

The Enterprise Mission Systems (EMS) Subdivision supports the Space Systems Command Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (SSC/BMC3) organization. The Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Chief Software Integration Engineer will lead efforts to modernize legacy systems and acquire new software capabilities which are used throughout the SDA enterprise from unclassified through SAP level. The selected candidate will utilize their expertise and leadership skills to see the engineering designs from concept development and stakeholder buy-in through implementation and test. The Chief Engineer will work with the Government to identify, prioritize and cost solutions based on current state realities and requirements held by many programs across various classification levels.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA

What You'll Be Doing

• Acting as the SDA Chief Software Integration Engineer, working directly with various Government Program Managers up through the Program Acquisition Executive (PAE) as well as various FFRDC, SETA, and contractor personnel
• Collaborating with multiple stakeholders with vastly different interests to prioritize implementation leading to general agreement
• Understanding existing legacy software and sensor capabilities, new requirements, and guiding acquisition strategy to give the warfighter reliable and modern capabilities
• Working through significant political, vendor lock-in, and technical conflicts to rapidly improve the SDA capability, resiliency, and increase machine to machine interfaces in the enterprise
• Influencing key Government and contractor stakeholders to move forward with proposed capabilities
• Leading teams to perform risk reduction research and development
• Ensuring the long-term sustainment and viability of the proposed implementations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Principal Engineer -Cloud Computing Architecture and Software Architecture Engineering:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent
• 15 or more years of applicable experience in software integration, software acquisition, agile, network engineering, and/or cloud technologies
• Proven ability to collaborate with multiple government stakeholders with vastly different interests finding collaborative solutions that will be adopted
• Experience delivering software solutions to the enterprise
• Ability to form deep hands‑on understanding of software and sensor capabilities and architecture to understand their true state enabling successful acquisition leadership
• Experience influencing key stakeholders
• Experience working through complex engineering challenges which have both technical and political contributions
• Experience working directly with contractors to implement and test complex designs
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Willing to travel domestically (approximately 20% of work time)
• This position requires an Active/Current Top Secret/SCI security clearance, with the ability to obtain SAP clearances.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Active SAP clearances
• Detailed knowledge of current enterprise SDA sensors and systems
• Working understanding of modern software tool chains
• Experience influencing and defining a strategic technical vision

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll be rewarded based