System Architect Engineer/Sr. System Architect Engineer - The Aerospace Corporation : Job Details

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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace's strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space-enabled mission effects.

The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon) provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Space Security (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others. ArCon staff participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains. ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions.

Work Model: This position will follow an in-person work model with a minimum of 4 days per week of onsite work required at one of Aerospace's campuses in Chantilly, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, or El Segundo, CA.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and participate in architecture studies of system concepts, to include multi-disciplinary engineering teams, supporting problem framing, gap analysis, and trade space assessment.
• Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel as a technical subject matter expert to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; mentor junior staff; support the scoping, planning, and execution of the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports.
• Define system capabilities, system of systems interfaces, and requirements for space, ground, or intersegment system architectures to address user needs and perspectives.
• Collaborate with other Aerospace personnel to marshal technical expertise in multiple technical disciplines and domains to enable concurrent engineering approaches to address complex problems.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Engineering Specialist:

• Bachelor of Science degree engineering, science, or a related technical field.
• At least 8 years of engineering experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains.
• Proficiency in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with teams, customers, Aerospace program offices, and contractors; to collaborate with other functional organizations within Aerospace; and to mentor and develop junior staff.
• Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and schedule commitments.
• Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%.
• A current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Sr. Engineering Specialist – Enterprise Systems Engineering include:

• A minimum of 12 years of substantive experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains.
• Ability to identify problem space, assess trade options, and independently formulate courses of action.
• Experience initiating and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to plan and execute projects or studies.
• Experience developing and presenting strategic decision-making and strategic communications artifacts for senior-level management and technical architecture design artifacts for engineering-level reviews.
• Ability to collaborate with employees, customers, acquisition program offices, and contractors.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Master's and/or Ph.D. in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated initiative to innovate, shape, drive, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tasks, projects, or organizations.
• Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products.
• More relevant work and/or graduate school experience, greater than 5 years, in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, or model-based systems engineering.
• More relevant work and/or graduate school experience, greater than 5 years, in space or ground systems. Experience in command and control, system of systems engineering, or system test and training are desired.
• Hands-on experience with system or enterprise modeling in the Systems Modeling Language (SysML), Unified Architecture Framework (UAF), or Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM).
• Experience working closely with key Aerospace customer agencies in the defense and intelligence community, including strong knowledge of their domain and strong professional networks.

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)

$117,300 - $226,900 Pay Basis: Annual