Space Enterprise Commercial Portfolio Optimization Leader

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Wellness plans

401(k) Plan

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation's Space Enterprise Commercial Portfolio Optimization Leader role seeks a technical leader to drive portfolio design, optimization, and analysis for national space initiatives. You will lead analysts and collaborate with customers to enable optimized architectures and acquisition strategies.

Minimum requirements include a B.S. in engineering or physics, 6+ years of experience, and a TS/SCI clearance, with strong programming and modeling skills in Python, C/C++, and

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field.
• 6 or more years of relevant professional or academic experience.
• Significant contribution to technical analytical or development projects.
• Experience leading teams delivering analyses or development efforts for customers.
• Background in optimization techniques, orbital mechanics, or satellite performance modeling.
• Knowledge of Python, C++, MATLAB or similar programming languages.
• Willing to travel domestically and hold a Current or Active TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of analysts to conduct trade studies, technical deep dives, and assessments.
• Provide subject matter expertise in space architecture design, trade space exploration, and portfolio analysis.
• Coordinate analysis efforts using modeling and simulation to support national architectures with commercial portfolios.
• Plan and execute studies, provide technical insights, and support recommendations for R&D and acquisition decisions.
• Develop and deploy simulation capabilities to support new functional areas and expanding customer base.
• Support workforce development through long-range planning, recruiting, and mentorship.

Skills

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Programming familiarity

Security clearance

Education

B.S. in aerospace/astronautical/mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

Python

C++

MATLAB

Job description

Space Enterprise Commercial Portfolio Optimization Leader page is loaded

Space Enterprise Commercial Portfolio Optimization Leader

Apply locations Chantilly, VA El Segundo, CA time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: October 30, 2026 (30+ days left to apply) job requisition id R016377

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.

Job Summary

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a wide-ranging and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities.

T he Space Enterprise Design and Optimization Department (SEDOD) is in EED’s Enterprise Design Subdivision (EDS). We bring to bear expertise in a wide variety of fields to tackle tough problems and explore novel ideas, directly impacting the future of the space enterprise. We primarily focus on the performance modeling, analysis, and optimization of orbits, mission architectures, and acquisition portfolios. We are searching for someone to join a team of engineers, mathematicians, and scientists and grow our department of highly skilled technical specialists. Join us today and become a part of a culture that promotes innovation, growth, and technical excellence!

As part of SEDOD and EDS, a technical leader on our staff will design and execute studies or development efforts for a portfolio of high-impact projects across the department and division. They will lead teams of analysts in support of these goals, providing guidance, structure, and advice as needed while also cultivating technical and leadership skills in the team. Additionally, they will leverage and grow their own domain knowledge by performing space and ground design, optimization, and analysis in support of architecture concept trade studies, requirements verification, analyses-of-alternatives, and performance modeling. They will also coordinate support to major department customers involving portfolio planning and integration of commercial capabilities into the national space enterprise .

Work Model: This position is 100% onsite at Chantilly, VA . T his position also offers a Hybrid work model with up to one day per week of remote work as business needs allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading teams of skilled analysts to conduct technical deep dives, trade studies, and assessments to satisfy project objectives and tasks

• Independently and collaboratively providing subject matter expertise to program offices and government customers in the areas of space architecture design and optimization, trade space exploration, and portfolio analysi s

• Coordinating and organizing analysis efforts using modeling and simulation capabilities t o capture both business and technical needs for enhancing national architectures with commercial portfolios

• Planning and executing studies , providing technical insights to customers, and supporting recommendations for customer research, development, and acquisition decisions

• Helping to sustain, develop, grow , and deploy simulation and analysis capabilities to support new functional areas for a n expanding customer base

• Supporting workforce development by assisting management with long-range planning, business development, resource acquisition, recruiting, training , and mentorship

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• B.S. degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field of science or engineering

• 6 or more years of relevant and progressive professional or academic experience

• Significant history of consistent contribution to multiple substantial technical analytical or development projects through their successful fruition

• History of leading teams delivering substantial technical analyses or development efforts in support of customer-driven project s

• Background in one or more of the following: optimization techniques, orbital mechanics, satellite constellation performance modeling, or satellite orbit access analysis

• Knowledge of Python, C, C++, Matlab , or another programming language

• Willing to support occasional travel domestically

• This position requires a Current or Active TS/SCI

How You Can Stand Out

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

• A graduate degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related field of science or engineering

• Knowledge of commercial space providers and capability offe rings and e xperience assessing emerging commercial technologies

• Work history in one of these specific national security space or intelligence mission areas: geo-spatial intelligence, signals intelligence, space surveillance, space protection, ground systems, or communications infrastructure supporting defense or intelligence capabilities.

• Thorough knowledge of Intelligence Community or U.S. Department of Defense business practices, acquisition policies, or space mission portfolios

• Extensive e xperience producing analyses and communicating results to various sized audiences

• Prior experience as the lead for matrixed teams with a wide variety of skill sets to solve multi-disciplinary challenges

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)

$120,800.00 - $181,100.00Pay 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 emailat [e-mail] .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal .

About Us

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.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.