Systems Director - Propulsion Systems

The Aerospace Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) plan with company contributions

Relocation assistance

Professional growth and education

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Systems Director for Propulsion Systems to lead a high‑impact team supporting Vulcan propulsion development and operations. You will oversee cross‑functional staff, manage budgets, provide technical depth, and interface with U.S.

Space Force and other customers to ensure mission success. This on‑site role at our Los Angeles AFB facility in El Segundo requires strong leadership, program management, and mission‑level decision making to advance national

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline is required.
• 12+ years of propulsion experience in launch vehicles and related systems.
• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and matrixed support.
• Experience with project management, budgets, and programmatic balance.
• Familiarity with mission assurance processes and NSSL context.
• Ability to travel regularly and obtain/maintain Secret clearance.
• US citizenship required for clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead department providing propulsion expertise for Vulcan booster and upper stage systems.
• Manage day-to-day department activities and matrixed ETG support.
• Build interdisciplinary teams and ensure customer satisfaction with Program Office.
• Promote staff development and mentor Program Office and ETG personnel.
• Interface with USSF SSC customer, launch vehicle contractor, and NRO Space Launch office.
• Mentor Space Force officers on technical analyses and processes.
• Communicate status and progress through reports and briefings to Aerospace, government customers, and contractors.
• Provide real-time support for tests, training, and launches of Vulcan missions.
• Collaborate with Aerospace management to align strategy and goals.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Staff development

Technical analysis

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering or related technical discipline

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 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 Materiel 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. In the Vulcan Development and Operations (VDO) subdivision of DSG, we are seeking a Systems Director for Propulsion Systems. In this role, you will lead staff providing propulsion expertise to the U.S. Space Force in procuring and assuring Vulcan space launches within the national security space launch (NSSL) program. Vulcan employs three propulsive cycles, each reliant on specialty design, unique materials and impeccable production and operation. Fortunately, you’ll be leading an FFRDC team with deep analytical and laboratory reach in each of these areas. You will ensure technically sound and objective assessments are provided, including actionable recommendations, within appropriate timelines and budget allocations. You will work with other managers in VDO to set strategy and achieve goals. And you will build, mentor, and sustain a team that provides technical depth and FFRDC unique capability while working closely with military, civilian, and contractor staff. The Vulcan rocket has been assigned the most exciting, unique, and critical launch missions. We seek someone to lead the team that ensures those missions can defy gravity to reach space.

The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time, on‑site at our facility in Los Angeles AFB in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the department providing expertise on development, production, and operation of Vulcan’s booster and upper stage propulsion systems
• Perform day‑to‑day management of department activities and personnel, and matrixed support from Aerospace’s Engineering and Technology Group (ETG)
• Build and maintain strong, interdisciplinary teams, working closely with Program Office customers to ensure customer satisfaction
• Promote staff development and mentor Program Office and ETG personnel
• Act as interface between staff, USSF SSC customer, launch vehicle contractor, and the NRO Office of Space Launch
• Mentor new Space Force officers to help them gain familiarity with technical processes and tasks associated with technical analysis disciplines
• Effectively communicate status and progress of management and technical activities, issues and accomplishments through written reports and presentations to Aerospace, Government customers, and contractor teams
• Provide realtime support for tests, training, and launch of Vulcan missions
• Interact frequently and work closely with Aerospace management team

Minimum Requirements for Systems Director

• Bachelor of Science Degree in engineering or related technical discipline from a recognized institution
• 12 or more years of experience, relevant to launch vehicle propulsion, in at least one of the following technical areas: cryogenic liquid rocket engines, cryogenic system design and operation, solid rocket motors, rocket engine/motor structural design/materials, turbomachinery or hydraulic design/analysis/test
• Experience in leadership of multi-disciplinary teams, including matrixed support
• Experience with project management and development (including budgets), demonstrated ability to balance technical and programmatic perspectives
• Experience with mission assurance/success processes and demonstrated ability to apply them in the NSSL program context
• Ability to travel on a regular basis (approximately once per month)
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, issued by the US Government
• US citizenship is required to obtain a clearance

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree in one of the disciplines identified as relevant to the position
• Previous line management and personnel development experience
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills, demonstrated thru work across organizations and up and down organizational levels
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: ability to present clear, concise briefings and write well‑crafted reports and assessments
• Demonstrated complex problem solving, well‑founded technical recommendations
• Demonstrates enterprise‑level perspective with prior Program Office(s) and ETG experience
• Able to work in high intensity, fast‑paced environment with rapidly changing priorities, and highly demanding customer
• Experience in mentoring and training of peers, team members and/or customers
• Working knowledge of launch industry standards, practices, and organizations
• SCI or SAP clearance or ability to obtain such a clearance

Compensation

(Min - Max) $168,200.00 - $252,400.00 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.

Company Culture

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.