Principal Director, ISCD Software Mission Solutions Subdivision

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.

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

This innovative and creative leader will be responsible for one of the company’s most critical matrix functions – software engineering and solution development. This leader will drive this organization at the forefront of technology and across our critical Aerospace missions through strategic leadership, workforce shaping, and talent management. They will be responsible to integrate a large span of customer support models ranging from software acquisition support, government / commercial contractor software architecture and deployment, software prototyping, modeling and simulation tool and platform development, and internal enterprise tool development, while bringing a passion and excitement for mission impact.

• Lead and integrate a multi-site matrix of software teams, building the workforce plan for the right mix of software mission assurance, rapid development, Dev Ops/Dev Sec Ops , prototyping, and acquisition support aligned to customer needs across DoD, IC, and civil space.
• Work directly with customers and Aerospace Program Office staff to create scalable team deployment, working closely with the ISCD Software Integration Office to build repeatable patterns for assembling and delivering high-end software engineering workforce.
• Develop, recruit, and mentor a high-end software engineering workforce, ensuring deep expertise in modern languages and processes, distributed systems, secure pipelines, classified development practices, Dev Ops delivery, Dev Sec Ops  tool chains, and emerging technology domains needed by national security customers.
• Grow our culture of advanced learning, innovation, and continuous up‑skilling for a modern software organization, building training pathways that keep staff at the technical cutting edge.
• 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.
• Drive modernization of legacy mission assurance and acquisition support models, improving insights into architecture development, verification and test frameworks, and collaborative evaluation processes to speed the overall software acquisition timelines.
• Partner with Aerospace’s CTO and CIO office initiatives to advance internal M&S solutions, shared software development platforms, cloud/edge environments, and the adoption of corporate data and AI/ML technologies.
• Create scalable processes for end‑user engagement and product adoption, ensuring successful transition of software tools to the right users across Aerospace.
• Establish new business mechanisms and cross‑program processes that improve information flow, business rhythms, team deployment strategies, and consistent product development/execution across the portfolio.

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 of proven executive leadership managing large, distributed software engineering organizations across multiple sites.
• Deep experience building and operating matrixed engineering organizations, including dynamic staffing, load balancing, and rapid team assembly.
• Strong technical foundation in modern full‑stack deployment, including backend architectures, cloud‑native systems,…