Principal Director for NASA Space Technology Directorate

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.Job SummaryBuilding on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.The CSG NASA Programs Division (NPD) strives to serve as the long-term strategic and trusted partner to our NASA customer providing independent advice in concept and space technology development, acquisition, systems engineering and independent assessment. In this role, the Principal Director for NASA Space Technology Directorate will oversee the Aerospace portfolio within CSG/NPD, in addition to supporting engineering activities for various customers and internal Aerospace initiatives. This position reports to the Assistant General Manager for Space Missions, Technology and Transportation Subdivision and oversees the portfolio across six NASA locations to include NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) in Washington, DC, Ames Research Cener (ARC), Armstrong Spaceflight Research Center (AFRC) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) all in California, Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, OH, and Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Norfolk, Virginia. This position requires excellent customer service skills in building relationships with internal Aerospace organizations and external stakeholders across NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia.The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Chantilly, VA or Crystal City, VA.What You’ll Be DoingOverall leadership and management of NASA Space Technology Directorate support organization. Develop subdivision objectives and strategy consistent with corporate goals and initiatives and customer expectations. Provide direction and planning for achieving both strategic and tactical goals.Represent Aerospace to senior NASA Senior Executive Service leaders, including direct interaction and support of NASA Mission Directorate Associate Administrators. Coordinate with subject matter experts and engineering support across an interdisciplinary and geographically distributed teams along a defined NASA programmatic theme or area of emphasis.Work with the NASA customer, partner organizations, and Aerospace technical experts in formulating overall strategy, defining requirements, and evaluating capabilities, in developing and broadening Aerospace’s reach into the human space flight arena.Support to the Assistant General Manager (AGM) providing overall day-to-day technical and managerial guidance and direction to direct reports for execution of on-contract tasking as well as strategic and thematic leadership over the growth of Aerospace’s impact in shaping the future of NASA human and science missions.Participate with the AGM in determining organization’s structure and staff and supports resource needs. Participates in budget planning and allocation of resources. Implements policies, practices, and operating processes and recommends improvements to higher management. Reports organization’s activities, progress and achievements through written and oral reports to management, subordinates, and customers.Assist in strategic planning and establishing external strategic relationships with potential partners, customers, and collaborators associated with a defined NASA programmatic theme or area of emphasis across the various NASA centers. Identify opportunities for additional, expanded and new business and assists the AGM and NASA Programs Division General Manager in the evaluation and pursuit of new opportunities.Build and manage the operating plans, budgets, staffing, succession planning, workforce needs, personnel development, customer interface, and division growth.What You Need to be Successful - Principal Director for NASA Space Technology Directorate - Engineering Integration – Engineering Program Management and Systems EngineeringMinimum RequirementsBachelor’s degree in science or engineering or equivalent is required.12 years or more of relevant experience in engineering and project management, with progressively increasing responsibilities including staffing, budgeting, and team building is required.Program office and/or Engineering & Technology Group program management leadership experience.Knowledge of NASA missions, technologies, development lifecycle, development requirements, and guidelinesExperience in institutional and programmatic oversight and knowledge of how NASA centers and programs allocate resources and administrate the NASA programmatic lifecycle.Demonstrated experience in partnership development/customer relations with multiple government customers.Familiarity with NASA technologies in the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) programs, projects, and centers is required. Familiarity with ISAM technologies, personnel, and government and private sector organizations with an interest in providing or requesting ISAM services.Demonstrated experience recognizing and defining the customer’s broad scope space problems.Ability to lead a geographically distributed team. Experience building and leading engineering teams to solve customer problems.Strong, communication and interpersonal skills, as evidenced through recent interaction and presentations to customers.Experience interacting with GS-15/SES level customer counterparts.Willing to travel to other NASA centers outside of the Washington, DC area, as required. How You Can Stand OutIt would be impressive if you have one or more of these:A Master of Technology degree, Master's degree in International Relations or Master of Business Administration (MBA) is preferredStrong business development, program management, and financial acumen.Experience with and knowledge of programmatic and portfolio analysis tools, databases, and methodologies including commercially available and in-house capabilities.Experience in space systems engineering, risk assessment, cost modeling and analysis, independent cost estimating, and leading and executing technical programmatic and architecture-level studies, such as Analysis of Alternative (AoA) studies.Leadership CompetenciesOur 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 StrategicallyLead 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 plansPaid holidays, sick time, and vacationStandard and alternate work schedules, including telework options401(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 hireFlexible spending accountsVariable pay program for exceptional contributionsRelocation assistanceProfessional growth and development programs to help advance your careerEducation assistance programsA work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respectWe 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 CommitmentThe 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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.