In an era of dynamic change in space, Aerospace is addressing a generation of complex challenges. We operate the only federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) committed exclusively to the space enterprise. Our technical experts span every discipline of space-related science and engineering. Join our team and thrive in a career that matters to the world and you personally.

Responsibilities

Acts as senior technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or team leader. May lead or organize interfaces between customers' and Aerospace technical and management staff. Coordinates large-scale technical efforts across program/project lines. Mentors less experienced MTS and serves as role model.

Key Functions
Senior Project Engineer – Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE) lead mission engineer. Developmental Prototypes and Projects (DPP) supports the United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) / Development Corps Innovation and Prototyping Directorate (DCI). Aerospace supports SMC through concept development, trade space analysis, in orbit and on ground technology validation and integration. The LDPE lead mission engineer is expected to lead and organize Aerospace support including program office and ETG on multiple missions. Focusing on LDPE-2 success until its scheduled launch on USSF-44 Falcon Heavy March 2021, while simultaneously organizing Engineering & Technology Group support for LDPE-3A design reviews, payload and spacecraft integration and testing and mission launch on USSF-67 in 4Q FY22. The lead mission engineer will also be called on to advise on the follow on to LDPE; the Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER). Activities on ROOSTER could include crafting requirements documents, technical analysis on during source selection, and design review entry and exit criteria development and review. The lead mission engineer will be responsible for system integration, interfaces with payloads, ground infrastructure, and associated sponsoring customers and primes integration with the primary mission. Coordinates large-scale technical efforts across the project.  Will often be required to investigate urgent technical problems and assemble a major briefing or report to Sr. Aerospace General Managers and Air Force Field Grade Officers. As an Aerospace representative in a customer or contractor's environment, provides non-directive advice, accepts action items, and may coordinate pertinent budgets, tasks, and priorities. In systems engineering assignments, generally leads/coordinates team comprised of diversely skilled engineers servicing a major portion of a large project or working across projects, and interfaces regularly with customer and contractor program management.

Key technical duties include:

• Support systems engineering, integration, and test for the LDPE core
• Ensure compatibility between each payload and the LDPE core
• Do no harm analysis for all payloads
• Coordination with SSDP and or Mission Design for mission planning and utility
• Continual improvement of prototyping and integration efforts
• Develop/improve classified processing capability to perform analytic assessments

Qualifications

Required

•  A master’s degree in engineering or science, 10 plus years of relevant progressive work experience in systems architecture, systems integration and/or systems engineering
• High interest, enthusiasm, and motivation in addressing future national space security challenges
• Self-starter, willing to work in a fast pace environment, with evolving focus areas
• Ability to build and/or maintain substantive rapport with Aerospace peers and government customers
• Broad familiarity with Air Force Space Command organizations, missions, architectures and systems
•  Demonstrated ability to make high tech understandable, & influence outcomes utilizing objective facts 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work in a team environment
• Excellent written communication skills - can organize complex materials and concepts in a manner that is clear and logical
• Excellent verbal communication skills - clear, concise, persuasive; builds consensus through speaking; polished, professional style
•   8 plus years of progressive experience space acquisitions and system integration
• Some travel is required
• Top Secret clearance and SCI / SAP eligible 

Preferred

• Current SCI and SAP experience 
• 12 or more years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments
• An excellent personal technical reputation and a record of personal technical achievement in Development Planning, Architecting, or Demonstration and Validation
•  Experience with rapid prototyping and operational fielding
•  The ability to work independently
• Ability to organize and execute high quality, substantive events including technical forums, major studies and executive presentations
• Technical depth in multiple subsystems
• Familiarity with Aerospace Federal Government and Civil/Commercial customers
• Experience with mission architectures and implementation
•  Experience with a broad range of AF missions and architecture
• Ability to organize and execute high quality, substantive events including technical forums, major studies and executive presentations
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with high-level customer representatives
• Experience with mentoring
• Experience with risk management

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 [email protected]. You can also review The Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster and the supplement, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.