The Aerospace Corporation
Principal Director, ISCD Software Mission Solutions Subdivision
The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California, United States, 90245
Principal Director, ISCD Software Mission Solutions Subdivision
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.
Work Model This is a full‑time position based in Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA that requires 100% onsite work.
What You’ll Be Doing You will lead the Software Mission Solutions Subdivision, a nationally distributed matrix of software engineers responsible for building, integrating, and supporting high‑impact solutions for aerospace’s space customer base. Your responsibilities include architecting a new organizational structure and operating model for rapid “team of teams” assembly, ensuring fast delivery of modern software solutions across the full stack.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and integrate a multi‑site matrix of software teams, building a workforce plan that aligns with customer needs across DoD, IC, and civil space.
Work directly with customers and Aerospace Program Office staff to create scalable team deployment and repeatable patterns for high‑end software engineering workforce.
Develop, recruit, and mentor a high‑end software engineering workforce, ensuring deep expertise in modern languages, distributed systems, secure pipelines, and classified development practices.
Grow a culture of advanced learning, innovation, and continuous up‑skilling, building training pathways that keep staff at the technical cutting edge.
Connect bleeding‑edge technology to unique customer solutions for innovative architectures, prototypes, and processes enabling rapid adoption of advanced capabilities.
Drive modernization of legacy mission assurance and acquisition support models, improving architecture development, verification, and test frameworks.
Partner with Aerospace’s CTO and CIO to advance internal M&S solutions, shared software development platforms, cloud/edge environments, and the adoption of data and AI/ML technologies.
Create scalable processes for end‑user engagement and product adoption, ensuring successful transition of software tools to the right users.
Establish new business mechanisms and cross‑program processes that improve information flow, team deployment strategies, and consistent product development/execution across the portfolio.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related STEM field.
12+ years of proven executive leadership managing large, distributed software engineering organizations across multiple sites.
Deep experience building and operating matrixed engineering organizations, including dynamic staffing and rapid team assembly.
Strong technical foundation in modern full‑stack deployment, cloud‑native systems, APIs/microservices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerization, and secure deployment.
Proven ability to deliver software‑first mission capabilities and advise senior government stakeholders from DoD, IC, and civil space customers.
Demonstrated success in mentoring and growing engineering talent at scale in a fast‑paced, AI/ML‑dominated environment.
Excellent communication skills, including presenting complex technical concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.
Track record of driving innovation and challenging legacy conventions in technical and organizational systems.
Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10–20% of the time.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
How You Can Stand Out
Direct experience standing up new matrix organizations and leading organizational change in a fast‑paced environment.
Program Office Lead or Product Manager delivering software solutions for government defense applications.
Domain experience in space control, space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking, or other space‑specific applications.
History of accelerating prototypes into fielded capabilities, especially in secure government systems and vendor integration.
Experience building connective tissue across distributed teams, unifying mission identity across sites.
Worked in Special Access Programs (SAP) with the corresponding security clearances.
Compensation Grade‑based pay range: $149,000 – $340,000 annual. Individual salaries within the range are determined by education, experience, knowledge, and skills.
Leadership Competencies
Operate Strategically
Lead Change
Engage with Impact
Foster Innovation
Deliver Results
Ways We Reward Our Employees During the interview process, our team will provide details of our industry‑leading benefits.
Benefits
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; immediate eligibility and vesting upon hire
Flexible spending accounts
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
Relocation assistance
Professional growth and development programs
Education assistance programs
An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
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 identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or 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 requires reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by e‑mail at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org.
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Work Model This is a full‑time position based in Chantilly, VA or El Segundo, CA that requires 100% onsite work.
What You’ll Be Doing You will lead the Software Mission Solutions Subdivision, a nationally distributed matrix of software engineers responsible for building, integrating, and supporting high‑impact solutions for aerospace’s space customer base. Your responsibilities include architecting a new organizational structure and operating model for rapid “team of teams” assembly, ensuring fast delivery of modern software solutions across the full stack.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and integrate a multi‑site matrix of software teams, building a workforce plan that aligns with customer needs across DoD, IC, and civil space.
Work directly with customers and Aerospace Program Office staff to create scalable team deployment and repeatable patterns for high‑end software engineering workforce.
Develop, recruit, and mentor a high‑end software engineering workforce, ensuring deep expertise in modern languages, distributed systems, secure pipelines, and classified development practices.
Grow a culture of advanced learning, innovation, and continuous up‑skilling, building training pathways that keep staff at the technical cutting edge.
Connect bleeding‑edge technology to unique customer solutions for innovative architectures, prototypes, and processes enabling rapid adoption of advanced capabilities.
Drive modernization of legacy mission assurance and acquisition support models, improving architecture development, verification, and test frameworks.
Partner with Aerospace’s CTO and CIO to advance internal M&S solutions, shared software development platforms, cloud/edge environments, and the adoption of data and AI/ML technologies.
Create scalable processes for end‑user engagement and product adoption, ensuring successful transition of software tools to the right users.
Establish new business mechanisms and cross‑program processes that improve information flow, team deployment strategies, and consistent product development/execution across the portfolio.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related STEM field.
12+ years of proven executive leadership managing large, distributed software engineering organizations across multiple sites.
Deep experience building and operating matrixed engineering organizations, including dynamic staffing and rapid team assembly.
Strong technical foundation in modern full‑stack deployment, cloud‑native systems, APIs/microservices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerization, and secure deployment.
Proven ability to deliver software‑first mission capabilities and advise senior government stakeholders from DoD, IC, and civil space customers.
Demonstrated success in mentoring and growing engineering talent at scale in a fast‑paced, AI/ML‑dominated environment.
Excellent communication skills, including presenting complex technical concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.
Track record of driving innovation and challenging legacy conventions in technical and organizational systems.
Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10–20% of the time.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
How You Can Stand Out
Direct experience standing up new matrix organizations and leading organizational change in a fast‑paced environment.
Program Office Lead or Product Manager delivering software solutions for government defense applications.
Domain experience in space control, space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking, or other space‑specific applications.
History of accelerating prototypes into fielded capabilities, especially in secure government systems and vendor integration.
Experience building connective tissue across distributed teams, unifying mission identity across sites.
Worked in Special Access Programs (SAP) with the corresponding security clearances.
Compensation Grade‑based pay range: $149,000 – $340,000 annual. Individual salaries within the range are determined by education, experience, knowledge, and skills.
Leadership Competencies
Operate Strategically
Lead Change
Engage with Impact
Foster Innovation
Deliver Results
Ways We Reward Our Employees During the interview process, our team will provide details of our industry‑leading benefits.
Benefits
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; immediate eligibility and vesting upon hire
Flexible spending accounts
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
Relocation assistance
Professional growth and development programs
Education assistance programs
An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect
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 identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or 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 requires reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by e‑mail at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org.
#J-18808-Ljbffr