Principal Director - Civil & Commercial Launch Projects

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 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 Material 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’s 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. As the Principal Director for Civil & Commercial Launch Projects (CCLP) sub-division within the Launch Systems Division, you will lead the group bringing launch expertise to bear for our civil, commercial, and international customers.

This work necessitates a close relationship with the Civil Systems Group, particularly their NASA Programs Division. In addition, CCLP is responsible for management of "small launch" activities for the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), located at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA. This role will include frequent travel to Albuquerque, NM, NASA Centers, and other U.S. locations.

• Managing and leading a geographically dispersed team providing launch expertise to a variety of customers - civil, commercial, international, and Department of War.
• Managing schedules, budgets and personnel resources for execution of work for these customers.
• Maintaining a close relationship with the Civil Systems Group for business development and execution of launch work. This includes the NASA Programs Division (particularly their Space Transportation Directorate), the Federal and Commercial Programs Division, and the Development and Program Operations Directorate.
• Acting as LMM representative to the corporate Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Review Committee.
• Acting as DSG representative to the Corporate IPT for Strategy and Policy.
• Chairing the Emerging Launch Community of Interest, with participation from across the corporation to exchange information on new launch providers.
• Engaging with the larger space enterprise at conferences and symposia to build relationships, engage potential customers, assess the market, and establish a positive reputation for Aerospace.
• Manage indirect budgets, both overhead and CSG-allocated business development funds.
• Develop the next set of leaders and launch experts by leveraging your leadership skills and expertise.
• Maintain and grow the relationship with the Space Innovation Directorate.

Minimum Requirements for Principal Director:

• Bac…