Listed on Orbital Diplomat 9 May 2026
The Aerospace Corporation is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) and the trusted technical partner to the U.S. national security space enterprise, supporting the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and the Pentagon. Its Defense Systems Group provides analysis-based decision support on space architectures, policy, strategy, technology development, and threat reduction across the national security space enterprise. This Systems Director role sits within the Space Security Directorate of the Space Enterprise and Warfighting Division, serving as the critical integration bridge between the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC), the Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP), and Space Systems Command (SSC) acquisition programme offices. The postholder will drive the transition of force design analytic results into real acquisition programmes, ensuring SWAC and SSDP recommendations are coherently integrated into SSC programmes of record with an end-to-end kill chain closure focus. This is one of the most operationally significant space security roles available in the U.S. defence ecosystem, requiring deep familiarity with SSC acquisition processes, SWAC force design methodologies, and the interagency relationships spanning government, FFRDC, and SETA organisations. A current Top Secret/SSBI/SCI clearance is required to interview. The position is fully on-site in El Segundo, CA.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or a related technical field Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible technical experience in space systems, programmes, and systems engineering or acquisition Current Top Secret/SSBI/SCI clearance required to interview; ability to obtain additional clearances US citizenship required Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships within integrated Government, FFRDC, and SETA teams Strong written and oral communication skills for senior leadership audiences Desirable: advanced degree in a relevant technical field Desirable: prior experience with SWAC and/or SSDP force design initiatives Desirable: extensive knowledge of SSC programmes and acquisition processes