Ground Systems Director- Operational Space Programs (OSP)

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.

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 with civilian federal government agencies including NASA, USGS, NOAA, and NNSA, fully integrated with Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors. 

The Operational Space Programs (OSP) team, part of CSG’s NASA Programs Division (NPD), provides program management and systems engineering support to both NASA-centric and joint agency programs at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). This support spans all program phases, from concept through design, development, deployment, and operations, all program sizes, from small exploratory projects through large flagship programs, and both flight and ground systems. 

The selected candidate will serve as the Ground Systems Director for OSP (Systems Director - Engineering Program Management and Systems Engineering), responsible for program management and systems engineering support to ground systems performing operational command and control and data processing functions for NOAA’s LEO and GEO weather satellites.   

In this role, you will apply your Systems Engineering skills to understand and define solutions for customers’ hard problems and your Program Management skills to organize and lead multiple Aerospace efforts to deliver results to solve these problems on schedule and within budget. 

This is a full-time position which requires 100% on-site work at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. 

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Provide leadership, planning, and direction to Aerospace technical staff and related business operations 
• Conduct staff performance reviews and recommend performance improvement, career development, salary, and promotion actions 
• Assign resources, determine staffing needs, and coordinate activities and operations with other Aerospace teams 
• Continuously engage with the LEO and GEO Ground System Government Project Managers to ascertain their highest risks and hardest problems  
• Team with NOAA, NASA, Aerospace, and other Contractors to resolve the risks and solve the problems 
• Actively oversee Aerospace work execution to ensure it meets customers’ technical requirements, delivers results, and stays within cost and schedule limits 
• Accomplish regular reporting to customers and Aerospace senior management on programmatic and technical elements of task execution, with focus on results and their impact on the problem(s) 

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in engineering, science, or equivalent technical discipline 

• 10 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in one or more of the following areas: 
  • Spacecraft and/or Instrument Systems Engineering 
  • Ground Systems Engineering for Spaceborne Missions 
  • Mission Operations for Spaceborne Missions 
  • Integrated Mission Systems Engineering 
  • Program and/or Project Management for Spaceborne Missions 
• Proven success identifying, prioritizing, and resolving high-impact technical issues for government customers  
• Demonstrated effective formation and leadership of collaborative work teams composed of contributors from diverse sources, backgrounds, and locations 
• Proven ability to manage and deliver results on work team projects within cost and schedule constraints, to include proposal development, cost tracking, and status reporting 
• Prior experience in a managerial role with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, and corporate staff 
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site/domestically approximately 10%  
• 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. 

How You Can Stand Out  

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

• Advanced degree(s) in engineering, physical science, or equivalent technical discipline 
• Track record of successful resolution of ground system “hard problems” that resulted in mission success, increased efficiency, and/or reduced lifecycle costs 
• Programmatic, operational and/or engineering experience with NOAA ground systems, cloud-based ground systems, and/or commercial provision of ground system services 
• Existing positive relationship(s) with project managers at NASA GSFC and/or NOAA NESDIS 
• Working knowledge of Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) skills and capabilities  

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)

$168,200.00 - $252,400.00

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.