Director, Weather Remote Sensing Systems Department

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.

At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration. With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results.

We guide our Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and civil clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions. Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD!

We are seeking a director to lead the Weather Remote Sensing Systems Department (WRSSD) within the Sensing and Processing Subdivision. The WRSSD team includes scientists and engineers across a broad range of disciplines actively engaged across the lifecycle of the current and next generation of remote sensing systems of national importance.

As Director, you will lead an organization chartered to provide the analytical capabilities and support needed to help the government design and evaluate performance of weather remote sensing systems. You will provide organizational and technical leadership to the team, grow internal and external technical collaborations, and establish new business opportunities with U. S. Government, civil, and commercial customers. If you’re passionate about sensors, data, and solving hard problems, join our team and help shape the future of weather remote sensing.

The selected candidate will be required to work full time on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

• Lead the Weather Remote Sensing Systems Department (WRSSD) by developing staff and technical capabilities in support of the weather and environmental remote sensing mission area for our civil and national security space customers.
• Provide technical, personnel, and organizational leadership for WRSSD.
• Develop and lead the execution of an office strategy to grow agile and expert staff while increasing the office’s value to current and future customers.
• Maintain group focus on
  1) end-to-end weather remote-sensing system performance modeling;
  2) life‑cycle expertise in sensors, data products, retrieval algorithms and data exploitation techniques; and
  3) operational impact assessments for Civil and DoD weather/environmental satellite programs.
• Anticipate customer future needs, understanding their hard problems, and developing novel capabilities and solutions.
• Build and lead high‑impact cross‑functional teams, aligning expertise with project needs and driving collaborative solutions.
• Partner with fellow directors in the Mission Payloads Division to shape a cohesive team strategy, align technical efforts, and share best practices.
• Ensure a healthy organization by consistent engagement with staff on project status, business needs, mentoring, and professional career goals.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in science, mathematics, or engineering.
• 10 years of experience with remote‑sensing systems.
• Subject‑matter expertise in at least one of the technical areas covered by the office:
  1) electro‑optical or microwave sensor phenomenology;
  2) remote sensing techniques for weather, environmental, or other applications;
  3) space‑based sensor and space architecture concept modeling;
  4) data exploitation techniques for remote sensing applications; and
  5) application of weather and environmental data…