Lead Ground Engineer

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.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape future space missions across the national security space enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including United States Space Force, United States 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.

Aerospace support for the SDA resides within the Agile Acquisition Division of the Defense Architectures and Integration office of the Defense Systems Group, which provides decision support at the enterprise level to senior Aerospace customers across the DoD, as well as helping to connect and align customers and Aerospace across the space enterprise. This position supports SDA’s Ground team at its Operations Center-North (OC-North) facility at Grand Forks, ND, for which the selected candidate will provide expertise in ground systems development, space-to-ground and ground-to-space networks, systems engineering, performance evaluation, acquisition oversight, and ground operations planning across the SDA constellations and spacecraft vendors to ensure successful operations of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Work Model

This is a full-time position based at the Grand Forks AFB in Grand Forks, North Dakota, which requires 100% onsite work. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• The selected candidate will support the SDA Tranche-1 (T1) Ground Operations and Integration (O&I) Program Manager (PM) on-site at SDA’s OC-North, located at Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, ND, to bring the T1 satellite network into operation. The PM is responsible for managing the acquisition of the overall Ground system to support the T1 operations network and directing the efforts of the primary Ground contractor. The PM leads a team of Government, FFRDC, SETA, and UARC personnel. The primary contractor has responsibility for procuring ground antennas, developing the operations centers, designing the ground and space network command and control software, and planning and executing subsystem and end-to-end systems testing.

• Help to ensure successful development of the T1 Ground system and its introduction into operations by assisting the SDA Ground PM with overall acquisition of the OC-North system and management of the primary contractor, including participation in subsystem and end-to-end systems testing. Provide day-to-day Ground systems engineering support at OC-North for T1 orbital operations. Interface with Operations Center-South (OC-South) counterparts as part of mission planning operations. Assist with the test planning, test execution, evaluation, and implementation of new Ground systems at OC-North, to include integration of new satellites into the T1 constellation.

• Provide Ground systems engineering expertise to guide contract execution and performance assessments, to include participation in design reviews, technical baseline management, operations planning, and follow-on Ground systems requirements definition. Review technical documentation (e.g. CONOPS, ICD’s, test plans, etc.), and lead Aerospace Independent Review Teams (IRTs). This role will also lead various ETG reachback teams for ad hoc technical activities and anomaly support.

• Employ strategic planning principles across the T1 Ground functions to enable the results of ground segment development activities to support the planned launch dates and completion of satellite early on-orbit checkouts, leading to full mission operations of the T1 constellation.

• This job includes daily interaction with SDA senior leaders, FFRDCs, SETAs, and UARC personnel across all the SDA program Cells (Divisions) and mission areas.

• Apply lessons learned, commercial best practices, and systems engineering principles to rapidly develop the T1 ground system to maintain the schedule for bringing T1 into operation.

• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed.

What You Need to be Successful – Systems Engineering, Acquisition and Communications Systems Engineering

Minimum Requirements:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics field

• 12 or more years of increasingly responsible and related engineering/scientific experience with satellite Ground systems, to include acquisition and development, space-to-ground connectivity, a general understanding of RF antennas, ground operations, mission planning operations, systems architecture design, and performance and risk assessment

• Knowledge of acquisition processes and a willingness to adjust them to best support SDA’s 2-year cycle acquisition efforts

• Candidates should be able to lead, work, and communicate effectively as part of a team in a very fast-paced, dynamic environment, reacting quickly and providing products of consistently high quality

• High interest, enthusiasm, and motivation in addressing future national security space challenges

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead cross-functional high-performance teams

• Ability to build and/or maintain substantive rapport with Aerospace peers, SETA personnel, and government customers (to include senior government leaders)

• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes utilizing objective facts

• Ability to work with the Aerospace Engineering Technology Group (ETG) matrix and other Aerospace program offices

• Experience in systems engineering, risk assessment, and trade space exploration studies

• Experience directly interfacing with customers and delivering comprehensive assessment products

• Excellent written communication skills are necessary, including the ability to organize complex materials and concepts in a manner that is clear and logical

• Excellent verbal communication skills are required – clear, concise, and persuasive – with the ability to build consensus through speaking in a polished, professional style  

• Willing to travel domestically approximately 10% of the time

• This position requires a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the US government

How You Can Stand Out

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

• A Masters or PhD degree from an accredited program in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics field

• 15 or more years of experience in Ground systems acquisition, development, operations, and risk assessment

• Knowledge of DoD, IC, Civil, and Commercial missions and technologies with multidisciplinary experience, including spacecraft and ground concept design and operation

• Direct experience working with SDA and a working knowledge of the SDA architecture, functional Cells, and leadership interactions

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 [email protected]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.