Principal Director - GEOINT Innovations

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 National Systems Group serves as the technical adviser to the National Reconnaissance Office and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

As the Principal Director of the GEOINT Innovations sub-division within the Imagery Programs Division, you will lead a diverse organization providing deep technical expertise and critical recommendations to the Government for GEOINT architecture definition and pre-acquisition activities, a wide array of advanced research and technology developments, and the acquisition of an innovative experimental system. You will apply Aerospace's technical capabilities to system engineering activities, unit/subsystem/vehicle integration and test, on-orbit asset support, performance assessments, and next generation space vehicle development.

This is an 100% on-site position in Chantilly, Virginia.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing the selloff and integration of an innovative experimental system critical to national mission priorities.
• Providing modeling and simulation analysis, in conjunction with community partners, to set performance objectives for the next generation of GEOINT systems.
• Directing research and development activities to advance the state of the art in GEOINT related technologies.
• Implementing Aerospace laboratory activities in support of emerging GEOINT missions.
• Leading Aerospace's fast-paced efforts to identify hard problems, develop strategic solutions and directing teams to respond effectively to those needs.
• Setting strategic direction for your team consistent with corporate goals, customer needs and assigned functions.
• Informing customer and corporate decision-making through analyses and recommendations.
• Leveraging your people skills to attract, develop and retain top talent.
• Establishing budgets and priorities, allocating resources.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited program in engineering, mathematics, physical sciences or other discipline relevant to the customer missions.
• Fifteen or more years demonstrating progressively more responsible experience in technical developments and acquisition of space systems.
• Five or more years of experience with GEOINT programs.
• Proven experience as a people leader
• Proven capability of creating and executing plans with long-term impact
• Outstanding communication skills both with executives and subject matter experts.
• Willing to travel domestically on the order of 10 trips a year.
• Candidates must have a current and active TS/SSBI/SCI security clearance and a current polygraph, issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Extensive leadership experience.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with major system acquisitions.
• Experience managing matrixed engineering resources.

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• A work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equalopportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color,religion,geneticinformation, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you're an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by emailat peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org .You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.