Sr. Cloud Solutions Designer

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 Material 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.

We're not just building satellites; we're constructing the future of defense, one innovative solution at a time. As the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, we tackle the most complex challenges with unmatched technical expertise. The Space Warfighting Analysis Office within our Aerospace Space Security Directorate is seeking a driven Sr. Cloud Solutions Designer to support our DoD customers.

This role will be diving deep into cutting-edge capabilities to analyze and design next-generation cloud solutions that will ensure our dominance in space warfare, and collaborate with a team of passionate problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Your work will directly impact national security and help shape the future of space operations for defense, civil, and commercial customers, including defining critical analytic problems and tasks, and guiding the development of innovative solutions. We are seeking someone that can develop high-level requirements and concepts for future architectures. As we are shaping the battlefield of tomorrow, this role contributes directly to designing resilient and effective solutions that will win the next war in space. Join us at The Aerospace Corporation and take your place among the elite team shaping the future of space!

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Colorado Springs, CO.

What You'll Be Doing

• Own the implementation of a cloud-native simulation environment for USSF Mission Analysis.
• Oversee the technical execution by a team of Aerospace and contractor cloud engineers.
• Collaborate with DAF Cloudworks to understand service offerings and requirements to field cloud native solutions to USSF Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis needs.

• Work with cloud service providers (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform) to understand their technologies and help the government and their contractors effectively adopt those technologies.

• Act as a technical lead engineer on prototyping efforts to demonstrate and benchmark cloud technologies on space mission use cases.

• Provide guidance and reference cloud architectures and best practices for the space enterprise.

• Develop cloud migration strategies for existing customer mission systems.

• Construct and optimize processes for user, application, and tools onboarding and administration.

• Create and deliver presentations to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• This role demands strong leadership, technical acumen, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of space warfare.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements Sr. Project Engineer - Enterprise Systems Engineering

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related STEM field.
• 12 or more years of experience working with software, IT systems, and related technologies.
• 5 or more years of experience working with cloud technologies.
• In depth knowledge and hands on experience with cloud service providers (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform). MS Azure experience preferred.
• In depth understanding and demonstrated experience with well architected cloud concepts: operational excellence, performance efficiency, security, reliability, and cost optimization.
• Experience in designing, architecting, developing, implementing, operating, and evolving cloud systems to support customers.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proven track record of working with customers to understand requirements and building cloud solutions to meet those requirements.
• Experience working with information systems security and cyber security teams.
• Ability to support (as required) certification and accreditation activities.
• Willing to travel occasionally approx. 20% (as needed)
• This position requires an active Top Secret security clearance and eligibility for SCI and SAP/SAR clearances, which are issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Applicant must be willing to take a US government administered polygraph test.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Masters or PhD degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field
• Certifications related to cloud computing (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, Google Cloud Engineer).
• Certifications related to cybersecurity (e.g., Security+, CISSP).
• Experience with virtualization platforms (Hyper-V, VMWare VSphere).
• Exposure to USSF Modeling and Simulation (M&S) or SWAC analytic activities
• A current and active Special Access Program (SAP) experience and eligibility security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government, is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

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