Systems Engineer – Space Architectures and Integration Advisor

Posted:
10/14/2024, 3:58:19 AM

Location(s):
Virginia, United States ⋅ Arlington, Virginia, United States

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
IT & Security

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

Aerospace serves as the technical and programmatic advisor to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ) responsible for the decisions and oversight for the development, acquisition, and fielding of capabilities for the United States Space Force, the United States Space Command and the joint warfighter to accelerate defense readiness and preserve America’s comprehensive military advantage in, from and through the space domain.  In addition to directly supporting senior leadership at the Pentagon, Aerospace also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with government customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation.

This position is for a Project/Senior Project Engineer providing systems engineering technical support to the Architecture and Integration Directorate in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQA).  The selected candidate will serve as an on-site resource for the Government to explore and assess various strategically focused mission concepts, and as the Senior/Project Engineer will reach across Aerospace for technical support to provide valuable expertise on architecture and integration activities that will inform Department of the Air Force (DAF) plans, programs, funding, and policies.

Work Model

This is a full-time position primarily located at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA offering a hybrid work model that combines on average, three regular onsite workdays and remote (telework) flexibility as the customer needs allow.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Collaborate and function effectively in an onsite environment with the customer and work with senior Government leaders, contractors, other government agencies, the various Aerospace program offices, and the Aerospace Engineering and Technical Group (ETG) to address technical and programmatic issues and provide the customer with the best available technical analyses and recommendations.
  • Develop, foster and maintain relationships with other acquisition and engineering offices within Space Systems Command (SSC) to include the Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO), Space Development Agency (SDA), Space Futures Command to include the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC), and other external customers and agencies
  • Be positioned to help address the breadth and depth of the space force architecture, systems engineering and integration challenges and issues and to form responses and recommendations through analytic tasks, studies, and other solution-oriented activities.
  • Deliver results on time-sensitive staff inquiries and provide technical support and assistance with official responses to Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, HQ Space Force and the Intelligence Community (IC).

What You Need to be Successful: Project Engineer, Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, science, or other related technical discipline
  • Minimum of 6 years’ experience in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, model-based systems engineering, digital engineering or other engineering disciplines (e.g., communications, optical, radar/RF, space vehicles, satellite ground systems)
  • Ability to engage and coordinate across multi-disciplinary engineering competencies and teams
  • Possess excellent interpersonal skills and well adept at oral and written communication
  • Willing to travel domestically on occasion when required by the customer (approx. <10%)
  • Proactive nature: self-starter; ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • This position requires a current Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

In addition to the above, the Senior Project Engineer, Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering requires:

  • Minimum of 12 years of increasingly responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and/or program management environments
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate across all aspects/functions/capabilities of the Aerospace Corporation through ETG and program office reach back coordination
  • Proven ability to work effectively with senior government, military personnel, co-located FFRDC, and SETA contractors
  • Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects

How You Can Stand Out

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

  • Advanced degree in engineering, mathematics, science, or other related technical discipline
  • Strong knowledge of systems-of-systems (SoS) engineering and enterprise architecting and model-based system engineering (MBSE) discipline (e.g. Cameo), literature, tools, and processes
  • Exposure to and/or substantive knowledge of the breadth and depth of ETG's technical capabilities and customer base, for example: USSF, DOD, NASA, NOAA, ODNI, NGA, and/or NRO.
  • Demonstrated experience briefing senior Government leaders (General Officer and/or SES)
  • Possess a thorough understanding of the roles played by the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force; the United States Space Force, U.S. Space Command; the space system program offices; the defense agencies; the Joint Staff; and other government organizations in the acquisition, management, and operation of the national security space enterprise

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 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

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

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 Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement