Director – Modeling & Simulation Software

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. An exciting opportunity awaits a new leader of Aerospace’s Modeling and Simulation Computing Department (MSCD), a dynamic organization dedicated to ground‑breaking software solutions and capabilities to provide decision‑quality data for government and commercial customers.

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

• Develop and execute organizational strategies aligned with corporate and customer objectives
• Collaborate with customers and subject matter experts to project future customer needs and proactively acquire funding to develop capabilities to meet those needs
• Assemble high‑functioning, diverse project teams to build nationally‑recognized space modeling and simulation capabilities
• Build a talented national organization through recruiting, hiring, and on‑boarding new staff
• Obtain, manage, and tailor work assignments to staff skillsets
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with peer organizations, and a broad base of customers
• Develop an organizational culture that promotes a welcoming, engaging, innovative work environment
• Manage budgets and procure required hardware and software
• Provide quality control to ensure that organizational products are of the highest quality
• Provide written and verbal briefings and recommendations to senior Aerospace leadership
• Evaluate staff performance and provide frequent, constructive feedback
• Serve as an individual technical contributor and technical project lead as needed

• Minimum requirements:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in STEM majors such as Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or related technical disciplines.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience
• Consistent track record of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of contractors, customers, management, and corporate staff
• Strong technical reputation and track record of technical achievement
• Experience with modern software development languages including C++ or Python
• Technical breadth and demonstrated learning agility
• Experience building and leading cross‑organizational teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated track record of developing people through mentoring and training
• Experience in managing people and projects in at least one of the following domains: software development;
  Dev Ops; modeling & simulation
• Ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government
• U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
• Ability to travel occasionally to domestic work locations or customer sites (< 20%)

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or related subject area
• Direct mission system experience in one or more of the following: GEOINT, missile warning/missile tracking/missile defeat, satellite communications, command and control, PNT, launch systems, civil space systems (NASA, NOAA)
• Modeling & simulation and/or analysis of multi‑domain end‑to‑end effects chains
• Experience architecting, developing, or using distributed simulation frameworks
• Strong experience and understanding of additional modern software development languages (e.g., Java, Go, Rust), processes & workflows, computing platforms (on/off‑prem, cloud/hybrid/multi‑cloud, etc.), containerization principles and technologies, data operations
• Experience with data science technology & applications (AI, ML, GAI)
• Demonstrates enterprise‑level perspective with prior Program Office(s) and ETG experience
• Active Top Secret or SCI clearance or current (