Principal Director, ISCD Software Mission Solutions Subdivision

Principal Director, ISCD Software Mission Solutions Subdivision

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.

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

You will lead the Software Mission Solutions Subdivision, a nationally distributed matrix of software engineers responsible for building, integrating, and supporting high‑impact solutions for aerospace’s space customer base. Your responsibilities include architecting a new organizational structure and operating model for rapid “team of teams” assembly, ensuring fast delivery of modern software solutions across the full stack.

• Lead and integrate a multi‑site matrix of software teams, building a workforce plan that aligns with customer needs across DoD, IC, and civil space.
• Work directly with customers and Aerospace Program Office staff to create scalable team deployment and repeatable patterns for high‑end software engineering workforce.
• Develop, recruit, and mentor a high‑end software engineering workforce, ensuring deep expertise in modern languages, distributed systems, secure pipelines, and classified development practices.
• Grow a culture of advanced learning, innovation, and continuous up‑skilling, building training pathways that keep staff at the technical cutting edge.
• Connect bleeding‑edge technology to unique customer solutions for innovative architectures, prototypes, and processes enabling rapid adoption of advanced capabilities.
• Drive modernization of legacy mission assurance and acquisition support models, improving architecture development, verification, and test frameworks.
• Partner with Aerospace’s CTO and CIO to advance internal M&S solutions, shared software development platforms, cloud/edge environments, and the adoption of data and AI/ML technologies.
• Create scalable processes for end‑user engagement and product adoption, ensuring successful transition of software tools to the right users.
• Establish new business mechanisms and cross‑program processes that improve information flow, team deployment strategies, and consistent product development/execution across the portfolio.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related STEM field.
• 12+ years of proven executive leadership managing large, distributed software engineering organizations across multiple sites.
• Deep experience building and operating matrixed engineering organizations, including dynamic staffing and rapid team assembly.
• Strong technical foundation in modern full‑stack deployment, cloud‑native systems, APIs/microservices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerization, and secure deployment.
• Proven ability to deliver software‑first mission capabilities and advise senior government stakeholders from DoD, IC, and civil space customers.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring and growing engineering talent at scale in a fast‑paced, AI/ML‑dominated environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting complex technical concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Track record of driving innovation and challenging legacy conventions in technical and organizational systems.
• Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10–20% of the time.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

• Direct experience standing up new matrix organizations and leading organizational change in a fast‑paced environment.
• Program Office Lead or Product Manager delivering software solutions for government defense applications.
• Domain experience in space control, space domain awareness, missile warning/tracking, or other space‑specific applications.
• History of accelerating prototypes into fielded capabilities, especially in…