Mission Capability 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. DSG’s Joint and Multi-Domain Subdivision supports a broad sponsor landscape, extending Aerospace’s space-based technical expertise to operational end users. With projects ranging from state-of-the-art research and concept development, to prototyping, cutting-edge laboratory environments, fully integrated operational capabilities, and robust analytics and decision support tools, Aerospace’s support to the military Services, Combatant Commands, and other government agencies helps to enable strategic decisions, explore new operational concepts, and drive toward integrated, multi-domain capabilities. As the Mission Capability Leader for the HEX mission capability supporting the DAF Integrated Fires Command and Control (DIFC2) program, you will lead the technical direction and integration of capabilities supporting Long Range Kill Chain and Sensor-to-Shooter mission workflows. You will serve as a key technical interface between the government product owner, operational stakeholders, and a multidisciplinary engineering team, translating mission needs into an integrated technical architecture and executable engineering priorities. This role requires broad technical judgment and depth in one or more relevant engineering areas while leveraging domain experts for detailed design and implementation. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Reston, VA. What You’ll Be Doing Define end-to-end architecture and guide HEX development from prototype to enterprise capability, including interfaces, data flows, network dependencies, and integration across C3BM enterprise and DAF Battle Network. Translate operational needs and mission workflows into technical architectures, requirements, and engineering priorities while providing direction across software, cloud, data, communications, and emerging technologies. Serve as primary technical focal point for the government product owner and key stakeholders, ensuring technical decisions align with mission objectives and program constraints. Guide system-level technical trades and decisions across disciplines, establish technical expectations, review designs, and partner with domain experts to shape implementation approaches. Coordinate across program staff, government organizations, industry partners, and Aerospace technical reach-back while supporting integration events, exercises, demonstrations, and operational assessments. What You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements for Project Engineer - Software Architecture Engineering: Bachelor’s degree in relevant STEM discipline or closely related technical field  Eight or more years of relevant technical experience in systems engineering, architecture, software, integration, or related technical disciplines Experience leading the architecture and integration of complex systems and working across multidisciplinary technical teams Demonstrated ability to translate mission and operational needs into technical architectures and priorities Skilled at communicating technical recommendations clearly to both government and technical audiences Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time, with additional travel during exercises or surge periods as required This position requires an active TS/SCI security clearance In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Project Engineer - Software Architecture Engineering include : Twelve or more years of technical experience, including multi-disciplinary systems engineering and technical team leadership Extensive experience and expertise in technical areas and leadership mentioned above How You Can Stand Out It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: C3BM, Sensor-to-Shooter, kill-chain, battle-management, ISR, or other multi-domain mission systems and workflows. System-of-systems architecture, mission engineering, MBSE, or complex system integration Modern software, cloud, data, or DevSecOps architectures and development practices Emerging technologies, including AI/ML, and their application to operational mission capabilities 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