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.
Building on The Aerospace Corporation’s reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.
We are looking for a Systems Director – Warhead and Systems Support (Systems Director – Engineering Program Management and Nuclear Engineering). As a Systems Director in the Civil Systems Group within Defense, you will provide leadership, planning and direction to an experienced team of engineers and work closely with Engineering Technical Managers to support the mission area of the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Programs (DP). Specifically, you will collaborate closely with your Principal Director and the rest of the management team to lead and manage your team to accomplish systems engineering/analysis to various Defense Program tasks in support of our Nation. You will mentor your team to leverage Aerospace’s vast network of subject matter experts to bring innovative solutions to NNSA’s hardest problems. Additionally, you will look to identify new opportunities/challenges to leverage Aerospace capabilities to apply to our NNSA customer.
Work Model
This is a full-time position based in Albuquerque, NM, offering a hybrid work model that combines 4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Work closely with your Principal Director and the rest of the management team to lead and manage Aerospace Warhead and Systems Support team members with the challenging issues Aerospace is tackling for Defense Programs within the National Nuclear Security Administration.
- Supports establishment of the Warhead and Systems Support organization’s objectives/goals with your principal director and communicate them to your subordinates and interfacing organizations.
- Conducts activities consistent with corporate policies/practices, goals, and objectives.
- Participates with higher management in determining the organization’s structure and staff including resource needs (budget planning and allocation of resources).
- Reports the organization’s activities, progress, and achievements through written and oral reports to management, subordinates, and customers.
- Coordinates work activities within the organization; monitors workload, work progress, and schedules; ensures completion of organization’s work assignments within cost and schedule guidelines.
- Seeks and identifies opportunities for additional, expanded, and new business and assists higher management in evaluating and pursuing new possibilities.
- Cooperates and communicates frequently with customers to coordinate and report work progress, issues, and results.
- Partnership with People Operations. Conducts staff performance reviews and recommends performance improvement, career development, salary, and promotion actions; establishes staffing needs; advises reassignments, training, transfers, and other staff deployments; and assists other supervisors in evaluating and assigning staff.
- Engineering functions/organizations: Directs technical group performing engineering design, analysis, or other research and development activities.
What You Need to be Successful – Systems Director – Engineering Program Management and Nuclear Engineering
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate technical discipline
- 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience
- Experience in a managerial/leadership role with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, and corporate staff
- Demonstrated networking, teaming, management, and leadership skills within a program office or matrixed technical organization, building and leading project teams, formulating task plans, ensuring product quality, and effectively interacting with customers.
- Proven technical credibility across a broad set of systems engineering topics, and a deep understanding of the engineering of complex systems
- Experience working with U.S. government agencies such as DOE/NNSA and DoD
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills
- Availability to travel domestically, up to 25% of the time
- This position requires applicant hold an active Secret or Q clearance, which is issued by the US government. US citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Advanced degree in engineering or math with specific experience in Systems Engineering
- Familiarity with the DOE and NNSA National Laboratories in the Defense Programs Arena
- Knowledge of the Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) skills and capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to create solutions to address national security needs
- Holds a TS or DOE Q clearance with ability to obtain SCI
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 ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
