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.

As part of the Space Enterprise and Warfighting Division, our Space Warfighting Directorate provides high-quality analytic support to the United States Space Force (USSF) and Combatant Commands through the USSF Component Field Commands. This position serves as Aerospace's senior integration leader for warfighting exercise planning, coordination, and execution in support of space operations and joint warfighting readiness.

Aerospace is seeking an experienced subject matter expert (SME) and highly Sr. Warfighting Exercise Technical Project Leader to serve as the integration leader and coordinator of technical contributors supporting USSF and Combatant Command exercises. The candidate must provide experience-based expertise on exercise planning processes, joint training systems, and space operations to coordinate Aerospace's multi-disciplinary support across the exercise lifecycle—from concept development through execution and assessment. This role will define and standardize how Aerospace organizes and delivers technical expertise to exercises, ensuring the right capabilities and subject matter experts are engaged at the right time to maximize warfighter impact.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Huntsville, AL or Colorado Springs, CO.

The role requires approximately 25% travel, primarily to CONUS locations including Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, and customer sites.

What You'll Be Doing

• Serve as Aerospace's integration leader and coordinator for warfighting exercise support, leading teams of technical contributors across the Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC) from Concept Design Conferences through execution, assessment, and after-action reviews.
• Coordinate large-scale technical efforts across program/project lines, synchronizing support from space domain experts, technical specialists, system subject matter experts, and analysts across Aerospace's enterprise to meet exercise objectives and customer needs.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of 10 or more senior-level technical contributors supporting exercises, providing orientation, technical guidance, and development insight while fostering collaboration across organizational boundaries.
• Identify issues, prioritize tasks, facilitate communications, and act as spokesperson for working groups to Aerospace management and government customers including STARCOM, Combined Force Component (CFC), and USSF Space Component Field Commands.
• Define and implement standardized Aerospace processes for exercise support, including requirements identification, resource coordination, technical support organization, and knowledge capture to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across exercises.
• Scope requirements for and initiate acquisition of technical support from appropriate corporate resources across the Aerospace enterprise, including engineering and technology groups, program offices, and specialized capabilities.
• Monitor and assist in development of budgets and resource allocations to accomplish exercise support tasks, managing resources effectively to meet customer commitments and exercise timelines.
• Serve as principal technical representative to customers during exercise planning conferences (CDC, IPC, MPC, FPC) and execution, coordinating Aerospace's participation in Master Scenario Event List (MSEL) development, Intelligence Scripting Working Groups, and exercise control planning.
• Support planning and execution of USSF service-level exercises and Combatant Command (CCMD) joint exercises, providing technical expertise on space capabilities, systems integration, operational concepts, and emerging technologies to enhance exercise realism and training value.
• Lead exercise evaluation and assessment activities, documenting observations, lessons learned, and technology gaps to inform Aerospace's technical planning, capability development, and future exercise support strategies.
• Coordinate appropriate space domain expertise across mission areas including space superiority, positioning/navigation/timing, missile warning, environmental monitoring, satellite communications, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance, and Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2).
• Network and collaborate across USSF organizations, CCMDs, Services, joint organizations, Intelligence Community, FFRDCs, UARCs, and contractors to establish effective partnerships and bring in tasks and projects addressing emerging exercise support needs.
• Advocate for enhanced exercise integration across Aerospace customers, identifying cross-organizational opportunities to amplify impact and advance joint all-domain operations involving space capabilities.
• Act as senior mentor to team members and customer personnel, providing guidance on exercise processes, technical approaches, and professional development while serving as a role model for technical excellence and customer engagement.
• Participate in new business and technical planning efforts to expand Aerospace's exercise support portfolio and enhance the Corporation's readiness to support warfighters across the competition continuum.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Leader – Technical Project Management:

• Bachelor's of Science degree in a technical or STEM-related discipline from a recognized institution.
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible relevant experience in military exercises, joint training, space operations, or systems integration, including demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Deep understanding of the Joint Training System and Joint Event Life Cycle, including exercise planning processes, training objectives development, Master Scenario Event List creation, and exercise evaluation/assessment methodologies.
• Prior military experience with direct involvement in exercise planning, execution, or evaluation at the tactical, operational, or strategic level.
• Functional knowledge of USSF warfighting capabilities, space operations concepts, and the integration of space capabilities into joint all-domain operations.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as integration leader and coordinator of technical teams, with proven experience leading cross-organizational efforts and managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong understanding of space domain mission areas and the technical systems that provide space capabilities to joint warfighters.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with military customers, senior leaders, and technical staff across organizational boundaries.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including ability to develop briefings and reports for senior military and civilian leadership.
• Strong initiative and ability to identify problems, recommend courses of action, and drive solutions independently.
• Demonstrated ability to network, build, and work within diverse, multi-disciplinary teams across organizations and geographic locations.
• Widely recognized internally and externally by peers, management, program offices, and customers.
• Proven ability to network, build, and work within diverse, multi-disciplinary teams.
• This position requires a current SSBI and an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance and access, issued by the US government.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree from a recognized institution.
• Active-Duty Military experience with US Space Force, US Air Force, or other service branches with space operations responsibilities.
• Experience as an exercise planner, evaluator, or director for Tier 1, 2, or 3 joint or service-level exercises.
• Direct experience with USSF Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), Combined Force Component (CFC), or USSF Component Field Commands.
• Knowledge of and experience with USSF force generation (SPAFORGEN) processes and training readiness requirements.
• Understanding of Combatant Command exercise frameworks, including Elite Constellation and other large-scale joint exercises.
• Familiarity with Mission Essential Task Lists (METLs), Universal Task Lists (UTLs), and the Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS) enterprise.
• Experience integrating emerging technologies, prototypes, or experimental capabilities into exercises for evaluation and concept validation.
• Expertise in one or more space mission areas such as space domain awareness, space electromagnetic warfare, satellite communications, or Battle Management Command and Control.
• Knowledge of man-made threats to space domain.
• Knowledge of and experience with Aerospace's ETG capabilities.
• Experience working large, complex issues and the ability to break down problems into meaningful steps to accomplish with a team.
• Track record of mentoring and developing junior technical staff.
• Current applicable SAP/SAR accesses.

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

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 various 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 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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.