Systems Lead, Aerospace ​/ Aviation ​/ Avionics, Engineering

Senior Project Leader – Synthetic Aperture Radar

Location:

Chantilly, VA. 100% on‑site work is required. A current TS/SSBI/SCI clearance with polygraph and U.S. citizenship are mandatory.

• Provide technical leadership to shape the future system vision, technology development roadmap, requirements, architecture, and associated demonstration missions while applying lessons learned from heritage missions.
• Lead a diverse team of technical SMEs to support these activities in a timely and responsive fashion to help define the acquisition trade space and inform customer decision‑making.
• Define and lead the development of a potential Aerospace payload prototype or testbed, or any independent lab/range testing, analysis, modeling and simulation, advanced processing or AI/ML capabilities needed to reduce risk, solve contractor problems, or advance mission capabilities.
• Identify and develop R&D investment opportunities, both within and external to Aerospace, to help the customer advance the state of technology in the future system.
• Provide on‑site Aerospace support to the government customer, including facilitating requested technical training or technology deep dives, and collaborate closely with the customer team (SETA contractors, other Aerospace personnel) and development contractors to bring future systems to fruition.

• Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, physics, engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Twelve or more years of professional engineering or technical management experience, working across boundaries to develop an integrated system.
• Experience with the development and testing of RF or SAR space systems or payloads.
• Experience with requirements development, verification, or systems architecting.
• Strong customer‑oriented attitude, ability to cultivate relationships across organizations, and demonstrated aptitude for coordinating exchanges between technical SMEs and customers.
• Ability to distill complex technical information into key findings and communicate those findings efficiently and credibly to the customer team at the appropriate level of technical depth.
• Willingness to provide occasional backup support to other team members and flex with program office needs as the mission evolves.
• Willingness to support frequent travel (typically one trip per month).
• Current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and polygraph issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

• Advanced degree in mathematics, physics, engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience developing SAR or RF payloads specifically for National Security Space customers.
• Industry experience developing ISR or commercial remote‑sensing satellites.

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
• 401(k) plan – 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 upon hire.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
• Relocation assistance.
• Professional growth and development programs.
• Education assistance programs.
• Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.

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, gender expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

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