SIGINT Ground Senior Project 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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

We are seeking a SIGINT Ground Senior Project Engineer (Senior Project Engineer - Systems and Modeling & Simulation Engineering) to be part of the National Reconnaissance Office’s SIGINT Ground Systems Program Office (SG SPO) within the Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED). Customer responsibilities in this area include the development and delivery of a SIGINT baseline ground portfolio and guiding evolution of those systems to a fully integrated and resilient enterprise. In this position, you will be contributing to the development of the US Government’s next-generation SIGINT Ground systems architecture by addressing complex challenges arising from a proliferated space environment to meet SIGINT mission requirements.

Work Model:

This is a full-time position based in Chantilly, VA, which requires 100% onsite work.

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Provide subject matter expertise in one of the following domains: SIGINT missions, Mission Management, or Ground architecture for a large proliferated space constellation
• Manage projects and work with ETG teams composed of diversely skilled engineers
• Engage with relevant program offices to work across boundaries and deliver comprehensive solutions  
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with customers to facilitate improvements for the IC mission
• Adapt to a constantly changing environment and collaborate effectively with contractors, government agencies, and other FFRDCs

What You Need to be Successful - Senior Project Engineer - Systems and Modeling & Simulation Engineering

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering, scientific field from a recognized institution
• 12 or more years of increasingly responsible professional US Government acquisition and engineering/scientific experiences, including leadership responsibilities
• Experience in one of the following domains: mission processing systems for space systems, constellation tasking and optimization, Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), software development or US Government acquisitions and/or systems engineering
• Demonstrated ability to work within a high-performing team of engineering professionals
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Willing to travel domestically (10-15% of the time) as necessary and flex work schedule to accommodate deadlines to support job requirements
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance, 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:

• Advanced degree in electrical engineering, computer science/software engineering, aerospace engineering, maths/physics
• Strong background in signal processing and RF communications
• Strong background in automation, ML
• Experience with agile-based software development at scale, agile testing with IV&V for federal contracts, commercial cloud environment, and DevOps pipeline implementation
• Experience with frequent operational deployments to both ground and on-orbit assets
• Knowledge or experience with either proliferated or hybrid satellite architectures
• Knowledge or experience with Enterprise level testing and integration of complex systems
• Expertise in RF remote sensing payloads and systems

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, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.