Associate Director, Vehicle Engineering & Integration Department at The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA

Job description

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 Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments. The Vehicle Engineering & Integration Department is part of the Vehicle Systems Division, the premier satellite and launch vehicle technical organization within the Aerospace Corporation. Vehicle Engineering & Integration is seeking a candidate to take on the role of Vehicle Engineering & Integration Department Associate Director (Associate Director – Interdisciplinary Vehicle Engineering and Integration) with a demonstrated record in leadership and a strong foundation in vehicle systems engineering, a passion for the space industry, and a desire to apply their expertise to help solve a variety of technical challenges facing national security space programs. This position is located in El Segundo, CA., or Chantilly, VA., and requires at least 4 days onsite. What You’ll Be Doing Support the Director and management team in establishing department objectives, communicating them to staff and matrix organizations; contribute to decisions on organizational structure, staffing, and resource/budget allocation Assign functional responsibilities within assigned teams; coordinate work activities and monitor progress against schedules and allocations Conduct staff performance reviews and recommend development, promotion, and salary actions for assigned staff Maintain strong technical expertise in interdisciplinary systems engineering, AI&T, Modeling & Simulation (M&S), and resiliency-focused design; lead or co-lead technical teams performing engineering design, analysis, and R&D across these disciplines Support multidisciplinary system-level acquisition, design, integration and test (AI&T) activities for space vehicles and interfaces to launch and ground systems Help identify, mitigate, and resolve subsystem risks and issues, with emphasis on system resiliency; provide risk assessment input to program offices during development and operational phases Contribute guidance on technical topics to advance industry state-of-practice in systems engineering, AI&T, and resiliency Coordinate regularly with customers on needs, schedules, and progress; develop and maintain strong working relationships with customers and contractors Identify and pursue interdisciplinary project and business opportunities, including new customers and cross-divisional partnerships; support business development and technological innovation Review technical work, reports, and briefings for customer delivery; escalate for approval as appropriate Mentor early career and department staff, providing technical guidance across interdisciplinary engineering domains; help bring in tasks/projects beyond personal activities Participate in multi-disciplinary technical teams and matrixed program office support, as needed; travel to contractor/vendor facilities as