Data Architectures Section Manager

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 platforms and architecture, advanced cloud and edge infrastructure, cybersecurity, and full-stack engineering through mission-focused, collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams.

These teams leverage hands-on prototyping and applied R&D to support customer concepts, digital architectures, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into real-world mission environments.

The Manager will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership to guide architects and engineers delivering data fabrics, streaming pipelines, federated data systems, and cloud-native data services supporting mission-critical programs.

This position plays a critical role in enabling data-driven operations, AI adoption, and digital transformation across the enterprise. The Manager will directly influence the organization’s ability to integrate data across domains, accelerate innovation, and deliver mission advantage.

This is a full-time position, 100% onsite  based in Chantilly, VA.  
** What You’ll Be Doing – Section Manager
*** Lead the architecture and implementation of distributed data platforms, data fabrics, and data mesh capabilities
* Oversee development of scalable data pipelines for batch, streaming, and real-time analytics
* Drive adoption of modern data technologies, patterns, and governance frameworks
* Enable secure cross-domain data sharing and integration
* Guide architectural data decisions supporting AI/ML, digital engineering, and operational analytics
* Manage and grow a team of data architects, engineers, and platform specialists (~6–10 staff)
* Set technical direction, priorities, and performance expectations
* Mentor staff to build deep expertise in distributed systems and modern data platforms
* Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and engineering excellence
* Support workforce development and strategic hiring
* Partner with program leadership, customers, and enterprise stakeholders
* Translate mission needs into technical roadmaps and deliverables
* Support proposal development, technical reviews, and executive briefings
* Coordinate across software, AI/ML, cyber, cloud, and domain engineering teams
* Ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture standards and compliance requirements
** What You Need to be Successful
*** Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical /STEM field
* 8+ years of experience in data engineering, distributed systems, or platform architecture
* 2+ years of technical leadership or people management experience
* Demonstrated experience designing data systems and architectures
* Experience with real-time data processing and event-driven systems
* Demonstrated  communication skills with both technical and executive audiences
* Candidates should have familiarity with many of the following:  + Data mesh or data fabric architectures  + Data Streaming (Apache Kafka, Pulsar, Kinesis, Spark, Flink, Beam, etc.)  + Storage & Databases (Distributed object storage (S3-compatible), No

SQL databases (Cassandra, Dynamo

DB, Mongo

DB)  + Governance & Observability, Data cataloging and lineage tools  + Security and data access control frameworks
* Ability to lead in a matrixed organization supporting multiple programs balancing competing…