Orbit Test and Ops Technical Lead

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’ 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 Aerospace On-Orbit Test and Ops Technical Lead in the Special Programs Division, Space Domain Superiority Directorate, you will serve as the Aerospace On-Orbit Test and Ops lead technical advisor to the SYD
89/SYM government team.

• Be the ElSegundo based acquisition program point-of-presence for the national on-orbit test and ops team, which includes other government, UARC, and SETA organizations
• Serve as the Aerospace technical lead for on-orbit test and evaluation (T&E) and operations, advising program leadership and operational stakeholders on test requirements, fielding decision and operational acceptance (FD/OA) criteria, and best practices for transitioning space systems to operational employment
• Provide strategic insight to Aerospace leadership and the customer on on-orbit test‑ and ops‑related risks, issues, gaps, and opportunities; recommending mitigation strategies and corrective actions to support progression towards operational acceptance milestones
• Support execution of integration DT/OT efforts across five test venues: modeling & simulation, space, ground, software, and cyber segments, with an emphasis on operational test planning, on‑orbit checkout, and transition to operational control
• Apply test and verification/validation (V&V) methodologies from terrestrial military systems and space domain best practices to support customer development of acquisition documents, test strategies, and operational transition plans
• Support development of critical test documentation including Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMPs), General Test Objectives (GTOs), Specific Test Objectives (STOs), test procedures, and test reports; and operational products including CONOPs, CONEMPs, TTPs, and training materials in coordination with the Lead Development Test Organization (LDTO) & Operational Test Organization (OTO)
• Design and facilitate tabletop exercises (TTXs) with stakeholders to develop and validate operational concepts, procedures, and employment scenarios prior to on‑orbit operations
• Assess system and architecture trades across space, ground, and cyber segments for impacts on test strategy, requirement…