Systems Director - GPS Control System (OCX)

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.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, development planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape the future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including US Space Force, U.S Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers but also horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. DSG also assists the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

Our Subdivision's customer is the Mission Delta 31, one of the first Space Operations Command (SpOC) "Integrated Mission Deltas (IMD)". MD31 key responsibilities include operation and maintenance of the GPS Constellation, development and transition of the next generation GPS Control System (OCX) and launch of the final tranche of GPS III space vehicles. The C2 Subdivision's primary focus is the development and transition of OCX in support of the 31st Capability Development Squadron (31CDS). OCX 3F builds upon OCX Block 1 and adds support for capabilities associated with the new GPS IIIF space vehicles (including Regional Military Protection). The IMD structure brings an exciting operational exchange into the traditional SSC acquisition model, whereby the Delta Commander is both an SSC Senior Materiel Leader as well as a SpOC Delta Commander. The Systems Director role will also straddle this dual role, advising both the CNCD General Manager (with their PEO counterpart) and the C2 Subdivision Principal Director (with their MD31 Commander counterpart), balancing acquisition and operational equities. MD31 is the template by which all future SpOC IMDs will be activated.

Work Model

Position will require on-site presence 4-5 days per week, with a primary workplace to be established at either the customer locations in Colorado Springs or Los Angeles AFB, or at the contractor facility in Aurora, CO.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the Aerospace support to 31CDS for OCX 3F Development
  • Working in concert with the program Materiel Leader (government) and Program Chief Engineer (Aerospace) to balance Mission Assurance, Programmatic, and Technical considerations for the best value to the government.
  • Empowering the Chief Engineer (your direct report) to enable engineering design, analysis or other research and development activities along with their other formally identified roles, authorities, and accountabilities.
• Establishing organization's objectives and goals and communicating them to subordinates, management, and interfacing matrix organizations. Responsible for conducting performance feedback in relation to corporate and individual goals, coaching and developing team members.
• Participating with higher management in determining organization's structure and staff and supports resource needs.
• Identifying and assigning sub-organization and staff functional responsibilities.
• Seeking and identifying opportunities for additional, expanded and new business and assisting higher management in the evaluation and pursuit of new opportunities.
• Cooperating and communicating frequently with customer to coordinate and report work progress, issues, and results.
• Co-locating with customer systems program offices, interfacing regularly at working-level and management level to ensure rapid assembly of and response by special task teams, efficient assignment of responsibility and action items, and rapid exchange of information.
• Planning, budgeting, organizing, and managing work of engineering support organization to conducting investigations, evaluations, experimentation, and related program support for Mission Assurance of the OCX 3F acquisition.
• Conducting Mission Assurance reviews and presentations for Aerospace and customer stakeholders.
• Providing interface between department and corporate/customer management, developing and strengthening relationships.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, computer science, or an equivalent STEM field.
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience, including substantial experience in a managerial role with proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, and corporate staff.
• One or more of the following:
  • 5+ Years experience in Satellite Ground Control Segment acquisition, development, or operations.
  • 5+ Years experience in major government or commercial distributed, networked software system.
  • 5+ Years experience in development or acquisition of space-, user-, or control-segment components of the Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Demonstrated and exceptional interpersonal, collaboration, teambuilding, strategic, leadership and communication skills.
• A strong technical background and experience in operations, systems engineering, testing, fielding and operations from a range of perspectives and domains.
• This position requires a current and active TS/SCI government security clearance and willingness to submit to additional clearances, which is issued by the US government; US citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
• Proven track record in a highly dynamic program office environment with a mix of Government, FFRDC and SETA personnel.
• Ability to travel within and to/from California and Colorado.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in systems engineering, computer science, distributed systems, geodetics, control theory, or an equivalent STEM field
• Current knowledge of Satellite Command and Control (C2); and distributed and cloud-based system technologies, capabilities, and acquisition
• Current knowledge of Digital Engineering technologies, capabilities, and acquisition
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with government program team leaders
• Demonstrated management skills including budgeting, staff development, and strategic planning
• Knowledge of Aerospace practices and policies relevant to department leadership

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)

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.