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.
Within the CSG, the Human Exploration and Space Flight (HESF) Division supports our NASA customer in all aspects of human space flight. We are looking for an Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Engineer -Project Engineer/Sr. Project Engineer – Technical Project Management. In this role you will support executive level NASA Program Management decision making by improving how Safety and Mission Assurance/Risk analysis is managed inside of the NASA Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA). Representing Aerospace on this NASA team, you will shape the OSMA requirements and implementation/maintenance approach for their respective stakeholders and partners.
Work Model
This is a full-time position based at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, offering a hybrid work model that combines 3-4 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Serve as a primary Safety and Mission Assurance/Risk representative to the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance as Aerospace
- Conduct Process Improvement initiatives and Lean Six Sigma events to map out the process and timelines/due dates for all reoccurring products and deliverables.
- Identify opportunities for efficiency (i.e. gaps, redundancies, IT tools, etc.), provide clarity on Responsible Owners, and appropriate use of skills.
- Support and develop monthly performance activities reporting on the status of the organization to agency level leaders via the Baseline Performance Review process
- Identify and lead major strategic campaigns for the office, integrating and sharing products internal and external to the agency
- Plan and execute workshops and agency level integration events associated with major campaigns
- Formulate recommendations to senior-level program management on:
- How to collect S&MA information across NASA
- How to summarize, track and share S&MA information which can include:
- Hazard and safety analyses
- Risk assessments
- Evaluation of operations to ensure compliance with approved S&MA requirements and to minimize operational risk
- Continuously monitor, capture, and integrate S&MA/Risk information across multiple programs, NASA centers, industry, and international partners
- Serve as a highly proactive technical specialist, understanding issues and formulating options/recommendations, while working closely with the headquarters and program S&MA teams across other offices, working groups and panels
- Lead forums and venues to formulate and prepare recommendations on improving the S&MA process and drive an outcome
- Coordinate requirements, technical objectives, interfaces, standards, issues and findings with subject matter experts and stakeholders
- Work with developers to create environments/capabilities that provide the business intelligence required to survey and summarize agency wide S&MA insight
- Perform other duties for the customer as required
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for the Project Engineer- Technical Project Management
- A Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program in engineering, math, science, or another related STEM discipline
- At least 6 years’ experience working in technical disciplines, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment across large government programs
- Excellent teaming and leadership skills with an ability to working across diverse teams and multi-task across various issues/disciplines simultaneously
- Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and communications skills, including development of and briefing of decision packages and complex information in a succinct and polished manner
- Understanding of specific NASA Human Spaceflight topics
- Versed in architecting solutions and working at agency level
- Demonstrated experience with collaborations supporting multiple disciplines/specialties
- Ability to work within a diverse team environment and many engineering disciplines, where the team is distributed across multiple NASA and Aerospace Corporation organizations, projects, and programs
- Proven expertise in managing multiple concurrent tasks and provide direction on competing priorities
- Willing to travel occasionally to work location/domestically/internationally approx. 4-6 times a year for workshops and face to face customer meetings
- This position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Project Engineer- Technical Project Management include:
- At least 10+ years’ experience with NASA or on NASA commercial systems, including experience in a systems engineering and/or program management environment across large government programs
- Expertise in building on NASA Human Spaceflight topics and Safety and Mission Assurance topics and leading efforts to enhance current approaches
- Highly skilled at architecting and implementing solutions working across the NASA agency with a portfolio of initiatives that have been implemented
- Expertise in leading process improvements from identification of process deficiencies to identification of path forward to an improved future state
- Expertise in strategic visioning and development of strategic campaigns that can be implemented both internal and external to an organization
How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Advanced degree from an accredited program in engineering, math, science, or another related STEM discipline
- Independent and self-motivated; proactive ability to learn on the job and serve as the primary interface to the customer and the community on S&MA/Risk topics
- Extensive project management expertise
- Superior analytical, planning, problem solving, and decision-making skills
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.
