Sr. Software System Architect Lead

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Relocation assistance

Education assistance programs

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Sr. Software System Architect Lead to drive the design, integration, and delivery of complex software systems for space programs.

You will work with government program offices, vendors, and cross-functional teams on site to guarantee scalable, secure, and high-performing solutions. The role emphasizes modular architectures, middleware frameworks, and adherence to space industry standards, with mentorship and leadership responsibilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related STEM field.
• 12+ years of experience in software, system design, and systems integration.
• Experience delivering large-scale, multi-component systems with vendors.
• Strong knowledge of cloud-native architectures and containerization (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Experience with distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of scalable, fault-tolerant, secure systems.
• Define and enforce software standards for performance, security, scalability.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and vendors on roadmaps.
• Lead technical reviews with multiple vendors for integration alignment.
• Establish middleware and modular design frameworks (AUTOSAR, DDS, ROS).
• Develop and maintain system documentation.
• Ensure compliance with ECSS/CCSDS space standards.
• Provide mentorship to development teams and vendors.
• Support system testing, validation, and verification.
• Escalate complex technical challenges and coordinate issue resolution.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Mentorship

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science / Systems Engineering

Tools

Kubernetes

Docker

AUTOSAR

DDS

ROS

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 Aerospace Space Domain Superiority Directorate, in the Special Programs Division, supports a broad array of Combat Power missions covering the entire threat response chain from the Space Domain Awareness function through the multidomain effects needed for space superiority. These programs include major system acquisitions for multiple ground and space segments, future architecture definition at the data/software/hardware levels, and research and technology for continuous evolution of space warfighting capabilities. We are looking for a Sr. Software System Architect Lead to contribute to a team that is developing and delivering a critical space control capability to guarantee space superiority for our nation. This work is focused on supporting all aspects of implementing programs within the tightly integrated program office consisting of military, Aerospace, and SETA personnel. You will work on site in the government program office, where you will have frequent interaction with the government and support contractors. This opportunity will also collaborate with National Security Space mission partners that are building and integrating capabilities. This position allows for the opportunity to see your contributions to a critical mission become realized in the near future. The Sr. Software System Architect Lead in the space domain will be responsible for overseeing the design, integration, and delivery of complex software systems from multiple vendors. The focus will be on validating a robust, modular architecture that allows seamless collaboration between teams and ensures our space technologies are scalable, secure, and high-performing. Working in close collaboration with cross-functional teams (software engineers, hardware engineers, system integrators, and vendors), this role will shape the future of our product line. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, California.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Oversee the delivery of highly scalable, fault-tolerant, and secure systems
• Define and enforce software standards, ensuring that solutions meet performance, security, and scalability requirements
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and external vendors to develop technical roadmaps and timelines
• Lead technical reviews and design discussions with multiple vendors to ensure system integration aligns with overall project objectives
• Establish and implement middleware and modular design frameworks (e.g., AUTOSAR, DDS, ROS) to support a modular software ecosystem
• Develop and maintain documentation for all systems and components
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and certifications relevant to the space domain (e.g., ECSS, CCSDS)
• Provide mentorship and guidance to development teams and vendors to ensure software best practices are followed
• Collaborate on system testing, validation, and verification with teams to ensure a smooth performance of systems
• Act as a point of escalation for complex technical challenges, working closely with vendors to troubleshoot and resolve issues

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Leader – Systems Software Engineering and Cloud Computing Architecture:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related STEM field
• 12+ years of experience in software, system design, and systems integration
• Proven experience working with vendors to deliver large-scale, multi-component systems
• Strong knowledge of cloud-native architectures and containerization technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker)
• Experience with distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures
• Hands‑on experience with DevOps practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure as code
• Excellent communication skills, with a strong ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams and vendors
• Strong leadership and project management skills to drive cross-team alignment and vendor delivery

This position requires a current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance, issued by the US government. US 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:

• Experience in the space or aerospace industry
• Expertise in modular software design and middleware frameworks (e.g., AUTOSAR, DDS, ROS, or similar)
• Familiarity with space-related standards, such as ECSS or CCSDS
• Knowledge of high-performance computing, real-time systems, and security for mission-critical applications (Risk Management Framework)
• Familiarity with AI/ML technologies and their applications in space systems

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

Leadership Competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results Ways

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

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

Airspace 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.