Principal Director, ISCD Software Integration Office

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 Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) is a unique engineering division partnering across the full space enterprise to advance next-generation digital solutions and software-enabled mission capabilities. With customers spanning the DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), civil and commercial space, ISCD blends expertise in software architecture, AI/ML systems, data fabric/architecture, advanced cloud and edge platforms, cybersecurity, and full-stack engineering through mission-focused, collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams. These collaborative teams leverage hands-on prototyping and applied R&D to support customer concepts, software architecture and development, and integration of the latest digital technology solutions. By bringing multi-disciplinary technical insight to critical space missions, ISCD is positioned at the forefront of innovative software and technology for excited new ways to make real-world impact.

We are seeking an innovative and energetic leader with deep technical and organizational experience architecting and guiding complex software solutions to build and lead our newest integrating organization, the Software Integration Office (SIO). The new Software Integration Office will provide ISCD division-level leadership across our many engineering department and across our diverse customer base. This organization will drive rapid software solutions and integrate our multi-disciplinary software teams and priorities across high-visibility corporate activities for improved focus and delivery. The SIO will also have strong partnerships with Aerospace's CIO/CTO internal offices to integrate our staff and products in concert with internal tool development. This position will have unprecedented access across the space enterprise to identify the hardest challenges and bring the best of the Aerospace FFRDC to unique digital solutions and prototypes.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly, Va or El Segundo, CA which requires 100% onsite work.

What You'll Be Doing

This innovative and creative leader will create and lead a new organization to integrate our division software efforts across mission applications and partner with other internal and external customer stakeholders. This office will synthesize customer needs from across internal and customer-facing organizations, create new processes to build and deploy multi-disciplinary teams, and collaborate with ISCD leadership and matrix managers to build improved focus toward mission applications. In addition, the SIO will also aid in providing cross-division ownership of internal research and development strategy and product/project execution in partnership with CIO/CTO initiatives. By creating a new ISCD front door organization, we can create new customer awareness/mission context, build new focus for our workforce, and create innovative opportunities for advanced concepts and unique mission applications.

Responsibilities will include:

• Build the organizational vision, strategy, and roadmaps for specific high-priority customer customers for critical "software-first" space programs.
• Engage directly with existing customers across DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil (NASA) customers to connect and align ISCD solutions toward mission needs.
• Build and manage a team of project Technical Leads/customer liaisons in collaboration with the ISCD Leadership Team (Principal Directors and General Manager) to shape the deployment and solutions for large and distributed workforce.
• Connect technology's bleeding edge to unique customer solutions for innovative architectures, prototypes, and new processes enabling government rapid adoption of the latest advanced capabilities.
• Create new business mechanisms and processes for improved cross-program information flow, business rhythms, team deployment, and product development/execution.

• Integrate, grow, and manage the ISCD research and development portfolio to create unique software products and expand Aerospace's digital impact across the enterprise.
• Partner with Aerospace's CTO and CIO enterprise initiatives to manage new, innovative products for internal M&S solutions, enterprise development platforms, and the latest data and AI technology.

• Expand our inclusive and collaborative team culture through personal engagement with staff to inspire, develop, mentor, and shape the workforce.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Principal Director, Software Integration Subdivision:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information science, electrical engineering, computer/cyber engineering, or related STEM field.
• 12 or more years of experience with demonstrated impact leading large, multidisciplinary software organizations, ideally supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, national security/government missions.
• Deep understanding of modern software development practices, including cloud-native architectures, DevOps/DevSecOps, containerization, microservices, data engineering, and advanced platform development.
• Demonstrated ability to shape and influence mid and long-range technical strategy, roadmaps, and customer engagement plans for highly complex, software-first mission programs.
• Exceptional customer-facing skills, with strong record of partnering with senior government sponsors / program offices to understand mission needs, translate requirements, and deliver impactful software capabilities.

• Established/proven success in building and leading integrated, multidisciplinary teams with a solution-oriented mindset for cross-customer impact.
• Experience managing internal research and development portfolios with examples of successful research transitions to operational deployment or commercial application.

• Demonstrated success creating new business mechanisms, organization communication pathways, scalable processes, and enterprise integration pathways for software products and digital solutions.

• Executive-level communication strengths including verbal, visual, and written skills with ability to interpret the most complex software innovations toward both technical and non-technical audiences

• Passion for modern technology and a growth mindset to shape future opportunities across Aerospace and space enterprise.
• Willing to travel occasionally to work location or customer site domestically approx. 10-20%.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance (TS/SCI level and higher), which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Direct experience standing up new organizations and leading culture change in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on experience delivering AI-enabled mission solutions, including applied AI/ML including MLOps for space systems, autonomous operations, cyber defense/detection, predictive analytics, modeling and simulation and physics-informed ML.
• Deep familiarity with multi-level security (MLS) architectures, cross domain solutions, and secure development/deployment environments across security levels, including experience creating secure and scalable enterprise products inside government cloud infrastructures.
• Specific experience developing products in the areas of space control, space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking, commercial space data exploitation, or other space applications.
• Direct experience serving as "Tiger Team" or "Red Team" member on government software or space programs.

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)
$149,012 - $340,071

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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal .