Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) System Test 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.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

Aerospace serves as the trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Program Office for the system development, integration, and transition to operations within an aggressive timeline.

This is your opportunity to lead at the forefront – directly influencing the acquisition for the ESS Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) system. The range of work includes evaluation of system architectures and integration and testing of the ground, space, and crypto segment capabilities.

Join a team where your expertise matters, your ideas shape national security, and your impact is reflected across acquisition strategies and operational deliveries.

The selected candidate will be required to work full time on-site at our facility at El Segundo, CA

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership to the ESS program office in developing and executing an integrated system test campaign across a multi-contractor system baseline
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with government, SETA, SE&I and other FFRDC leads to ensure system test is well-integrated with the broader program systems engineering approach
• Support government collaboration with key external test organizations to include those responsible for conducting OT&E
• Lead the test team in proactively identifying test related risk and opportunity trades, executing technical assessments of contractor test artifacts and present findings to government decision makers
• Conduct risk and opportunity trades, and assessing contractor test artifacts for adequacy and integration into the broader system test flow

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements - Senior Project Engineer - Systems Engineering – Acquisition and Systems Engineering

• Bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering discipline

• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in integration and test
• Experience with specific phases of system assessments to include system requirements breakdown, test design/design of experiments, test planning, test execution, and test reporting
• Experience with DoD, USAF, and/or USSF Test and Evaluation policy, guidance, and best practices
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams
• Proven ability to establish and maintain trusted relationships with government customers, SETA contractors, and key stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills for interactions at all levels of government and corporate leadership
• This position requires an active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time

How You Can Stand Out

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

• An advanced degree in a relevant technical area
• Experience working large, complex issues and the ability to break down problems into meaningful steps to accomplish with a team
• Program office and management experience; experience directing matrixed technical support teams
• Proficiency in DoD/IC space systems
• Experience with SATCOM/MILSATCOM technologies and operations
• Experience with developing, testing, and/or operating space systems
• Experience working in a program office with a government customer is desirable
• In-depth knowledge of DoD acquisitions, satellite communication, cyber operations, and ground systems

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)

$151,300.00 - $226,900.00

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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.