OPIR Ground Deputy Chief Engineer

## OPIR Ground Deputy Chief Engineer Apply locations:
Buckley SFB, COtime type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todaytime left to apply:
End Date:
August 10, 2026 (30+ days left to apply) job requisition :
R015175

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.

Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation.

Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

We are looking for a OPIR Ground Deputy Chief Engineer (
** Sr. Project Leader – Cyber Security & Cloud Computing Architecture**) to join our Colorado-based Space-Based Sensing Division team supporting SSC FORGE acquisition efforts. The Missile Warning and Tracking Ground, Exploitation, and Operations Subdivision (MWT GEOSD) provides technical and programmatic support across the heritage and future Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missile warning and tracking ground systems engineering, development, integration, and sustainment activities.

The Deputy Chief Engineer for MWT GEOSD will serve as the deputy chief architect and mission area end-to-end infrastructure subject matter expert to the GEOSD Systems Director for Operations and GEOSD Chief Engineer within the USSF SSC Strategic Missile Warning Ground and Integration Acquisition Delta. This position will provide technical and programmatic leadership in defining, acquiring, and operationalizing cyber secure Next-Generation OPIR ground capabilities that implement state-of-the-art industry solutions, including commercial cloud, to drive the DoW OPIR enterprise forward as a cohesive whole.

This is a fully on-site position based at Buckley Space Force Base.
** What You’ll Be Doing
*** Support the Chief Engineer and Systems Director for Operations, and within delegated roles and responsibilities, act as the lead technical authority for the Next-Generation OPIR missile warning ground segment acquisition activities.
* Serve as the leader of a team of multi-agency, multi-discipline technical and programmatic leaders and contributors across missile warning ground system development efforts, ensuring successful incorporation of OPIR data from multiple sources.
* Execute the role of on-site US Government Deputy Chief Engineer, with delegated authority for on-site design, architecture, and change control for all FORGE-based, SSC-owned systems being fielded, operationally accepted, and operationally used in the SBIRS MCS.
* Drive on-site delivery of next-generation OPIR prototype and development capabilities to operational usage, including new ground systems and incremental capability upgrades.
* Incorporate best-in-breed industry solutions, with heavy emphasis on cloud-native concepts, designs, architectures, and solutions, into the OPIR MWT architecture.
* Implement on-premises cloud platform solutions…