Space Forces Component Operations Lead

Senior Project Engineer – Technical Project Management

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.

• Serve as Aerospace’s senior operational lead for USSF Space Component Field Commands, with an initial focus on SPACEFOR-INDOPAC, SPACEFOR-CENT, and SPACEFOR-SPACE (S4S), while leading buildup of Aerospace support to SPACEFOR-EURAF,
  -SOUTH,
  -NORTH, and the SOCOM Space Element.
• Maintain a continuous operational picture of component needs and priorities, including missions, OPLANs, named operations, and major exercises, and how components interact with CSpOC, NSDC, JOPC, and other service Operational Centers.
• Act as a coherent “voice on space war fighting” representing USSF and USSPACECOM perspectives, helping clarify roles and expectations when the enterprise inquires.
• Work as part of a Space Warfighting leadership team to understand a prioritized set of component needs, focus Aerospace resources on the most consequential problems in space and joint war fighting, and ensure the broader Aerospace backplane is aligned on those priorities.
• As Aerospace’s representative in component environments, translate operational needs into technical work.
• Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams of technical contributors supporting component operations, analysis, and planning; provide operational context, prioritize tasks, and facilitate communications across Aerospace and government stakeholders.
• Serve as a senior mentor and integrator for Aerospace personnel embedded at Component Field Commands (e.g., SPACECENT) and supporting from reachback.
• Support planning and execution of space operations in component, CCMD, and joint venues.
• Coordinate technical efforts across program/project lines, leveraging Aerospace expertise to develop component‑relevant space employment concepts/mission threads and conduct concept exploration/program definition studies for USSF capabilities supporting component and CCMD missions.
• Advocate for component space requirements and evaluate future space system capabilities from an operational perspective, helping component staffs define space capability needs to support war fighting plans and objectives.
• Network and collaborate across USSF, USSPACECOM, other Services, government agencies, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA contractors.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, operations, or other technical or military science discipline from a recognized institution.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible technical or operational experience in space systems, space operations, theater/joint military operations, systems integration, or a combination of these areas.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage major program segments or large analyses in an operational context.
• Functional awareness/working knowledge of USSF war fighting capabilities and operations, including how space capabilities are presented by the Service and employed by USSPACECOM and Component Commands.
• Experience with operations of space systems and/or command and control in a joint war fighting environment, including familiarity with supported/supporting relationships across CCMDs.
• Understanding of theater space interaction within JADC2, CSpOC, NSDC, and component headquarters, and how those organizations coordinate during competition, crisis, and conflict.
• Background in one or more of the following mission areas: missile warning/OPIR (Overhead Persistent Infrared), space domain awareness, space electromagnetic warfare, SATCOM, NAVWAR (Navigation Warfare), or BMC2 (Battle Management Command and Control).
• Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor and spokesperson in front of senior military/civilian leaders and represent Aerospace in customer environments and coordinate budgets, tasks, and…