ESS Space Systems Payload Project Leader

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 Material 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.

The ESS Program seeks a Space Systems Payload Project Leader to serve as a technical advisor for payload engineering within an integrated program office supporting the U.S. Space Force. This position requires a RF communications engineering expert who will focus on the satellite RF payload subsystems, provide technical advisory services to government customers, and ensure alignment between acquisition strategies and mission capability requirements.

Last year, the ESS program awarded the Space Development and Production contract; in the coming year, the space segment advances towards a 2027 CDR. ESS is a communications satellite program for resilient, reliable, and secure communications for NC3 users worldwide; within this program, the Payload Project Leader role encompasses responsibility for technical advisement for the RF payload portfolio including phased array antenna and XDR modem subsystems.

This role will work with a highly experienced payload engineering team, interface regularly with Space Force leadership, Aerospace Corporation management and personnel, SETA contractors, and prime contractors to ensure successful execution of this critical national security space program.

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

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide insight to Aerospace leadership and the customer on prime contractor execution status, risks, issues, and opportunities for the RF payload.
• Maintain effective working relationships with customer leadership, contractors, ETG and other supporting contractors.
• Manage allocated resources to prioritize tasking for ETG subject matter experts.
• Deliver, in collaboration with ETG, technical position papers, design assessments, and briefings on technical, cost, and schedule risk to the program relating to communication payload design and implementation.
• Act as a technical advisor to the Space Force customer on the RF payload architecture and performance.
• Serve as integration leader and/or coordinator of technical teams and act as spokesperson for working groups to management and customers.
• Monitor and assess contractor performance and delivery of the products and/or services under space, ground, and crypto contracts that relate to the ESS payload design and implementation.
• Apply systems engineering principles in support of the execution phase of the program.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Project Leader – Communications Systems and Payload Systems Engineering – RF:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution or a related STEM field.
• 8 or more years of escalating responsibilities in professional engineering/scientific experience working across government programs
• A track record demonstrating space systems engineering skills including the ability to understand, explain, and present to the customer how specific issues are connected to the broader program.
• Experience with satellite communication hardware and/or digital/analog waveform processing.
• Exhibited ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multi-disciplinary teams that include colleagues, government, and contractor personnel.
• Demonstration of excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to develop technical materials and present to key stakeholders and senior leaders; writing sample and presentation required.
• Ability to travel to contractor and vendor facilities as required.

• This position requires an active Secret security clearance, which is issued by the US 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:

• Experience with mission assurance principles and practices.
• Familiarity with IEEE 15288.2 (IEEE Standard for Application of Systems Engineering on Defense Programs)
• Understanding of space system acquisition.
• MILSATCOM program office experience.
• Familiarity with Aerospace culture and prior experience coordinating with Engineering & Technology Group (ETG).
• Advanced technical degree in engineering, science, physics, or related field.

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min – Max)

$132,900.00 – $199,300.00

Pay Basis: Annual

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

An inclusive 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 equal opportunity 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, genetic information, 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 email at [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.