Chief Engineer - Defense Space Acquisition

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 Materiel 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.

Defense Space Acquisition (DSA) Operation leads the corporation’s efforts in space and ground acquisition support to Space Systems Command to outpace the threat design, development, and operations of game-changing warfighting capabilities. We further look to strengthen the corporation’s ability to integrate across the many customer organizations to enable our nation’s preeminent space enterprise.  

Defense Systems Acquisition (DSA) organization serves as the technical and programmatic advisor to the United States Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) for acquiring, developing, and fielding capabilities for the United States Space Command and joint warfighter as well as to maintain America’s comprehensive military advantage in space.  

As the DSA Chief Engineer, you will lead Aerospace’s cross divisional work in identifying critical needs in working to make the operation successful, to bring to bear relevant and emerging technical approaches and strategies that will maximize acquisition outcomes for our broad range of customers.  

You will work closely with senior USSF customers, contractors, Aerospace staff and management, and subject matter experts to identify and address mission needs and follow through on opportunities to maintain cost, schedule, and performance. 

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Lead the identification and coordination of common technical approaches and positions across the enterprise for the space segment 

• Strengthen the commercial first approach to our offerings 

• Lead the evolution of SPO mission assurance practices for greater efficiency, effectiveness, and agility.  Coordinate with launch, ground and other space segment efforts across the corporation, as well as Engineering Technology Group (ETG) and Corporate Chief Engineer's Office (CCEO) to ensure identification and promulgation of best practices 

• Identify and champion opportunities to promote enterprise integration and interoperability such as data standards across all domains, and increased commonality and principles of CPA 

• Monitoring and guiding the successful deployment of digital engineering solutions for acquisitions 

• Identify the need for and lead cross programs teams in multiple functional areas 

• Recommend and guide the DSA/DSG internal investments to position the organization to meet strategic goals 

• Champion and guide the workforce transition from traditional waterfall acquisitions to agile methods, and DevSecOps approaches for both software and hardware 

• Represent the organization’s interests to the prime contractor industrial base and influence the community to meet emerging customer needs 

• Lead engagements in Aerospace technical community outreach events, via paper presentation and panel participation 

• Mentor more junior personnel, identifying growth opportunities and providing coaching 

What You Need to be Successful 
Minimum Requirements Principal Engineer - Enterprise Systems Engineering: 

• Bachelor's degree in an appropriate technical discipline from a recognized institution 

• 15 or more years of progressively responsible experience in an appropriate discipline – track record of outstanding accomplishments 

• Superior communication skills, both verbal and written with an ability to work with entry level staff to seniors in the Space Force and the industrial base and all levels in between 

• Proven ability to prepare and present effective presentations to all levels of audiences, within DSG and other Aerospace organizations 

• Ability to effectively engage a diverse technical organization's SMEs and close on complicated technical issues with credible rationale and supporting documentation 

• Capacity to team and collaborate with DSG leadership and project engineers across the corporation 

• Capability to synthesize complex information from several sources simultaneously 

• Aptitude to create teams across the group, and influence actions in multiple program lines 

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. 

• AI enabled skills 

• Current and Active Top Secret/SCI clearance, issued by the US Government. SAP highly desirable 

How You Can Stand Out 
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Advanced relevant degree 

• Diverse background across multiple disciplines such as systems engineering, software engineering, acquisition lifecycle activities 

• Successful experience supporting a space and launch programs 

• Proficiency in understanding and executing various Aerospace Mission Assurance process 

• Ability to create teams across the group, and influence actions in multiple program lines 

• SAP Clearance