Sr. Launch Vehicle Engineer - Sr. Project Leader

Overview

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 Materiel 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.

Would you like to be part of a dynamic team of project engineers supporting the execution of National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions? In this position you will help lead a team of talented individuals to provide operational support to NSSL launches and evaluate the certification of launch systems in support of United States Space Force (USSF) programs.

• Directly support the Falcon Chief Engineer by providing technical leadership and systems engineering expertise to ensure timely mission assurance task execution (e.g. ChERBs, NRDV assessments, and LVM tasks) to support the customer s launch timelines
• Act in a Deputy role to the Falcon CE as needed to mitigate schedule conflicts
  • Provide on-console support for launch rehearsals (ICE) and launch campaigns
  • Represent the CE in technical meetings with contractors and customers
  • Coordinating tasks and priorities with the CE and management as required
• Develop and coordinate ChERBs between the seams of component owners or system analysts
• Coordinate critical milestone reviews to certify vehicles for flight (e.g., Aerospace Readiness Reviews, Aerospace President s Review, Flight Readiness Reviews and launch site readiness)
• Offer technical and programmatic consultation and recommendations to the Falcon Chief Engineer, management and customers regarding issues and findings impacting launch
• Develop and maintain processes to track and verify launch vehicle configuration Changes, Issues, and Risks
• Ensure the Falcon Launch System interface, vehicle requirements and documentation are compliant with NSSL program top-level requirements
• Responsible for systems engineering tasks such as JIRA development and maintenance (e.g. managing tiger teams, Falcon Change tickets and Risk tickets)
• Prepare briefings and report certification and mission specific assessments for internal and external reviews as required

Minimum Requirements - Senior Project Leader, Systems and Mission Assurance Engineering:

• B.S. in Engineering or Physical Science from a recognized institution
• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience
• Proven experience with manufacturing and production issues related to launch system hardware
• Proven experience leading diverse and multidisciplinary teams to solve technical issues, especially as related to anomaly and failure investigations
• An active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance issued by the US government. US citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

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

• Advanced degree in engineering or related field
• Proficiency using Jira and Confluence or similar project tracking software
• Familiarity with NSSL Standard Interface Specification (SIS) and Systems Performance Requirement Document (SPRD) requirements
• A broad set of skills to work diverse problems is highly desired
• Knowledge and experience in the execution of Aerospace mission assurance processes
• Understanding of launch systems with an emphasis on the Falcon launch system
• Experience with systems engineering and verification of requirements
• Effective interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of customer and corporate staff