C3 Engineering & Operations Department - Associate Director

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.
Job Summary
The Command, Control, and Communications (C3) Engineering & Operations Department (CEOD) staff provide operationally-focused engineering solutions for space enterprise C3 systems, missions, and processes in support of our IC, DoD, and civilian customers. We deliver systems engineering support for mission and command and control (C2) systems; provide ground system expertise; serve as domain experts for testing campaigns; influence future electronic warfare (EW) and space data transport (SDT) investments; offer operational C2 expertise for future systems; and provide technical support for fielded space systems and their modernization. Do you want to have a positive impact on the present and future space enterprise? Join us as an Associate Director on the CEOD team in the Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) at The Aerospace Corporation and help us lead this amazing team!
This position will be onsite in Colorado Springs, CO with possibility for a hybrid work model.
What You'll Be Doing

• Share responsibility for the leadership and management of CEOD as a direct report to the Department Director
• Work closely with customers to understand their objectives and challenges
• Anticipate future customer needs and proactively develop capabilities to meet those needs
• Prioritize requests from a variety of customers
• Develop and maintain key relationships with customer program offices and other ETG departments
• Develop an organizational culture that champions innovation and customer responsiveness
• Coordinate numerous cross-departmental technical activities
• Lead technical teams and contribute to technical tasks
• Manage department resources and staff to meet customer needs in the areas of ground systems engineering, ground architecture modernization, operational satellite ground systems, and/or ground systems software test campaigns
• Assess and implement staffing needs and formulate annual department hiring plans
• Implement corporate processes for staff recognition, reward, and promotion
• Evaluate staff performance and provide frequent, constructive feedback
• Manage budgets and facilitate procurement of necessary hardware and software
• Provide quality control to ensure that department products are of the highest quality and delivered in a timely manner
• Provide regular reports to customers and management as required

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline from a recognized institution
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience
• Experience in satellite operations, ground systems engineering, ground architecture modernization, software test, verification, validation, and sustainment along with general systems engineering and integration for ground or space systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of customers and corporate staff
• Demonstrated ability to organize and lead teams
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn and apply new technical skills
• Proven ability to develop staff through mentoring and training
• Knowledge and understanding of corporate policies and practices and organizational structure
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Current Secret clearance with the ability to obtain/maintain an SCI clearance
• Some travel required (20%)

How You Can Stand Out
We would be impressed if you have any of the following:

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, or related technical discipline from a recognized institution
• Familiarity with Space Systems Command (SSC), US Space Force (USSF), US Space Command (USSPACECOM), NASA, and NRO customers
• Experience leading ground modernization efforts
• Experience as a Test Director for a project
• Strong background in agile software development, familiarity with software version control systems (git, subversion), and experience working with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence)
• Familiarity with digital engineering or model-based systems engineering
• Experience managing remote staff
• Demonstrated ability to meet administrative, budgetary, and technical constraints and schedules
• Demonstrated strong work ethic, self-motivation, and willingness to take initiative
• High level of creativity and innovation
• Current TS/SCI clearance

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 - Mid - Max)
$122,952 - $202,011 - $281,070
Pay Basis: Annual
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 [email protected]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.