Director- Propulsion Department at The Aerospace Corporation
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
Provide technical and managerial leadership to the Propulsion Department to develop, maintain, and apply expertise for vehicle propulsion. Specific applications include liquid rocket engines, solid rocket motors, spacecraft thrusters, integrated propulsion systems, hypersonic propulsion, and space propulsion technologies.
Key Functions
Technical functions:
- Direct and coordinate a broad range of activities involving design, analysis, development, qualification, acceptance, operation, and performance of current and future propulsion systems
- Coordinate the development, maintenance, and improvement of resources, tools, and skills to support technical activities that span from concept design through qualification, deployment, and operation
- Provide leadership in the development and implementation of advanced propulsion technologies, test techniques, and analysis methodologies
- Promote and effectively utilize a propulsion laboratory
- Produce or approve relevant presentations and reports to help establish timely and accurate technical positions
Managerial functions:
- Monitor the technical endeavors of teams and individuals to ensure they are consistent with organizational quality standards and sufficiently coordinated with other ETG organizations
- Adequately inform management and customers of work plans, progress, results, concerns, and recommendations
- Provide leadership to audit teams and anomaly investigations as required
- Conduct line management functions including strategic planning, hiring/staffing, performance reviews, rewarding/developing staff, and various administrative duties related to day-to-day operations
- Travel occasionally to contractor and customer facilities
Strategic functions:
- Establish technical direction, priorities, standards, and goals for the organization, consistent with corporate goals/policies, customer needs, and responsibilities; communicate expectations to staff
- Foster relationships with US industry and academia in support of corporate goals and customer needs
- Coach and/or lead staff in technical outreach and shaping the future (especially mission assurance practices and technology development priorities)
- Understand current and anticipate future customer needs via sufficient interaction with management and program offices, and ensure effective preparation and responses to those needs
- Identify and facilitate customer growth in current and new areas
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent
- Typically 12 years of applicable professional engineering/scientific, educational and/or management experience is required
- Recent technical support or direct program office experience with propulsion system design, performance analysis, launch/mission support, system specifications, and experimental methods and testing
- Demonstrated leadership in building and managing technical teams, risk management, anomaly investigation, propulsion system development, and mission assurance
- Strong familiarity with key propulsion system aspects, including most of the following: combustion/reacting flows; fluid mechanics/gas dynamics; thermodynamics; heat transfer; materials; propulsion systems engineering; solid and liquid rocket propellants; electric propulsion; development, qualification, flight certification, and launch support processes for space launch systems, hypersonic systems, or spacecraft; modern propulsion analytical tools; experimental and test planning techniques and verification processes; and risk assessment and mitigation processes
- Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate activities with diverse organizations and maintain technical cognizance over multiple program support tasks
- Demonstrated ability to proactively achieve solutions to diverse and complex problems by applying or guiding technical insight, analytical tools, problem solving skills, teamwork, and maturity of judgment
- Demonstrated initiative and strong technical leadership skills
- Proven ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal working relationships
- Ability to appropriately balance technical detail and broader programmatic considerations
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to effectively communicate organizational positions and findings
- Limited travel may be required
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
Preferred
- An advanced degree in a STEM field or equivalent
- 15 years of applicable professional engineering/scientific experience, educational and/or management experience is preferred
- Substantial and sustained experience in an effective managerial or supervisory role
- Proven ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, and corporate staff
- Experience working on national security space, civil space, and commercial space programs
- Familiarity with USAF, USSF, NASA, and industry mission assurance practices
- Current TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the US government, is highly preferred. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
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 and the supplement, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
