Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Systems Integrator

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 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.

Aerospace serves as the trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Program Office for the system development, integration, and transition to operations within an aggressive timeframe.

This is your opportunity to lead at the forefront – directly influencing system architectures while driving innovation that delivers resilient, mission-ready solutions.

Join a team where your expertise matters, your ideas shape national security, and your impact is felt across acquisition strategies and operational realities.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site in El Segundo, California.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the integration of ESS Enterprise across space, ground, crypto, and terminals
• Managing critical interfaces between ESS Segments and with external systems
• Serving as a senior technical authority on coordinating cross segment analysis to support system level trades. Recommending studies to explore alternative courses of action to mitigate integration risks and issues.
• Working with Aerospace subject matter experts, government, SETA, and development contactors to provide government with a clear understanding of contractor performance, system issues, and technical risks.
• Building strong partnerships with external stakeholders to include SPACECOM, STARCOM, and STRATCOM to work through refining concepts of operations as ESS system implementation matures through development lifecycle.
• Timely engagements with NC3 stakeholders to facilitate understanding of end-to-end mission capabilities and working through strategic and operational risks and issues. Routine interchanges with MD8 planners, operators, and sustainers.
• Providing technical leadership and mentorship to team members

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Senior Project Leader - Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable STEM areas or other relevant disciplines.
• At least twelve (12) years of increasingly responsible experience in engineering or technical capacity
• Experience in systems engineering and systems integration
• Ability to lead multi-segmented, disbursed and multidisciplinary teams to accomplish a common objective
• Experience providing and leading analysis of system architectures
• Experience with SATCOM technologies and operations
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 10%
• This position requires an active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. 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:

• Proven experience and expertise in MILSATCOM technologies and operations
• Experience with MILSATCOM concept of operations
• Familiarity with NC3 stakeholders and mission areas
• Familiarity with ESS and its mission
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.