Sr. NAVWAR PNT Strategic Architect

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare and wellness plans

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) matching

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Telework options

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation seeks a Sr. NAVWAR PNT Strategic Architect to support DoD customers from its Colorado Springs facility. You will analyze NAVWAR and PNT capabilities, develop high‑level requirements, and design next‑generation architectures for space and ground operations.

You’ll lead analytic efforts, collaborate with government and interagency partners, and communicate findings to senior leadership to influence national security strategy. A TS clearance and travel ~20% are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field.
• 12+ years of progressively more responsible technical experience with space sensing systems development and acquisition, analysis, operations and/or program management.
• Expertise with space NAVWAR / PNT systems and architectures.
• Ability to collaborate with GPS and PNT community.
• Ability to work in fast-paced & dynamic environment on complex problems.
• Ability to work effectively with integrated Government, FFRDC, UARC, and SETA teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willing to travel occasionally approx. 20%.
• Active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI and SAP/SAR clearances.

Responsibilities

• Guide the Government leadership on technical approaches, force design, systems engineering, and mission architectures for space and ground operations.
• Lead development of future space architectures and design resilient solutions for contested environments.
• Define analytic plans, identify tasks, and guide studies to shape space warfighting futures.
• Collaborate with interagency and military communities, including SSC, SDA, USSC, and Combatant Commands.
• Leverage resources to solve complex customer challenges and deliver impactful solutions.
• Communicate findings to senior Aerospace and government leadership to influence national security strategy.

Skills

NAVWAR

PNT systems

Systems engineering

Leadership

Written communication

Education

BS in engineering

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. We’re not just building satellites; we’re constructing the future of defense, one innovative solution at a time. As the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, we tackle the most complex challenges with unmatched technical expertise. The Space Warfighting Analysis Office within our Aerospace Space Security Directorate is seeking a driven Sr. NAVWAR PNT Strategic Architect to support our DoD customers. This role will be diving deep into cutting‑edge Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities, and analyzing and designing next‑generation NAVWAR and PNT systems that will ensure our dominance in space warfare. Your work will collaborate with a team of passionate problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and directly impact national security and help shape the future of space operations for defense, civil, and commercial customers. Through partnerships with government officials, this role defines critical analytic problems and tasks, and will guide the development of NAVWAR and PNT Force Design products. This position will leverage your understanding of NAVWAR and PNT systems to develop high‑level requirements and concepts for future architectures. As we shape the battlefield of tomorrow, this role will contribute directly to designing resilient and effective solutions. The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time, on‑site at our facility in Colorado Springs, CO.

What You’ll Be Doing

Guide the SWAC’s Government leadership, providing expert advice on technical approaches, force design, systems engineering, and mission architectures for both space and ground-based operations.

Spearhead the development of future space architectures, designing resilient and effective solutions to operate in a highly contested operational environment.

Lead analytical efforts that define the battlefield of tomorrow, developing comprehensive analytic plans, identifying critical tasks, and guiding studies to shape the future of space warfighting.

Collaborate with a diverse team across multiple classifications, engaging with interagency, military, and civilian communities – including key organizations like Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Development Agency (SDA), US Space Command (USSC) and other Combatant Commands.

Leverage Aerospace’s vast resources to tap into a wealth of expertise, solving complex customer challenges and delivering impactful solutions.

Make a tangible impact by communicating your findings to senior leadership at Aerospace and the government, ensuring your work directly influences national security strategy.

This role demands strong leadership, technical acumen, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of space warfare.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer - Enterprise Systems Engineering:

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field from a recognized institution.

12 or more years of progressively more responsible technical experience with space sensing systems development and acquisition, analysis, operations and/or program management.

Expertise with space NAVWAR / PNT systems and architectures.

Ability to collaborate with thought leaders in GPS and PNT community.

Ability to independently work and thrive in a fast‑paced & dynamic environment working on complex problems, including tailoring and using cutting edge analysis tools.

Ability to work effectively with integrated Government, FFRDC, UARC, and SETA teams.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Willing to travel occasionally approx. 20% (as required).

This position requires an active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI and SAP/SAR clearances, which are issued by the US government.

U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Applicant must be willing to take a US government administered polygraph test.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in engineering, physics, or other technical sciences from a recognized institution.
• Over 10 years of modeling, simulation, and analysis experience, with a strong background in space systems technologies, space architectural concepts or joint warfighting operations.
• Extensive knowledge and experience with creating, supporting and/or leading technical studies teams examining topics of national significance including tasking and managing matrixed technical resources.
• Direct experience with NAVWAR and PNT mission areas and systems.
• Demonstrated success in directly interfacing with senior government leadership of varying backgrounds.
• Experience with digital engineering and/or agile approaches to analysis and development activities.
• Extensive experience with one or more space system development program offices.
• Experience developing space mission architectures.
• Experience working with the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, Space Security and Defense Program, US Space Force, or US Space Command.

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) $151,300.00 - $226,900.00 Pay 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

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.

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.

Return to the Aerospace Careers site.

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