Principal Director – Space Missions 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 deliver innovative solutions spanning satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers.

The Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG supports civilian federal government agencies including NASA, USGS, NOAA, and NNSA, fully integrated with Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

The Space Missions Directorate, part of CSG’s NASA Programs Division (NPD), provides program management and systems engineering support to NASA-centric and joint agency programs at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. This support spans all program phases, from concept through design, acquisition, development, deployment, and operations, across all program sizes and acquisition approaches.

About the Role

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Principal Director for the Space Missions Directorate to lead Aerospace support to GSFC. This role involves working closely with GSFC senior leaders, providing strategic program management and systems engineering expertise to solve their hardest problems. The successful candidate will lead high-performing teams to help GSFC missions achieve programmatic and technical success and shape future missions.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for effective strategic and tactical positioning of the Space Missions directorate to ensure relevant, timely support and differentiating value to customers.
• Lead teams of directors and staff to support GSFC divisions, programs, and projects in achieving programmatic and technical success and help shape future missions.
• Collaborate with the Aerospace technical backplane to integrate deep subject matter expertise with on-site staff and customers to solve NASA’s hardest problems.
• Actively oversee Aerospace work execution at GSFC to ensure it meets customers’ technical requirements, delivers results, and stays within cost and schedule limits.
• Lead development of technical operating plans, budget control, staffing, succession planning, workforce needs, personnel development, customer interaction, and technical positions.
• Provide technical leadership, oversight, and direct support for all work and deliveries, coordinating with subject matter experts and engineering support across interdisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.
• Ensure organizational alignment and continuity, including setting strategy, goals, and expectations; developing, mentoring, and driving engagement of staff; and identifying and retaining top talent.
• Advance a team culture of innovation, collaboration, mission focus, and mission success.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or equivalent is required.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible professional leadership experience applicable to the position.
• 10+ years of experience advancing US space missions.
• Experience with space system programs, including spacecraft and/or ground system formulation, acquisition, development, integration, and test.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, prioritize, and resolve high-impact technical and programmatic issues for senior government and/or industry leaders.
• Demonstrated effective formation and leadership of collaborative work teams composed of contributors from diverse sources, backgrounds, and locations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and deliver results on work team projects within cost and schedule constraints, including proposal development, cost tracking, and status reporting.
• Proven ability to network with contractors, government agencies, Aerospace program offices, and the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) to address issues and provide the best available technical and programmatic analyses.
• Strong business and financial acumen with a constructive and proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to make time-critical mission success decisions with ambiguous or incomplete data.
• Excellent verbal communication skills: clear, concise, persuasive; builds consensus through speaking; polished, professional style.
• Excellent written communication skills: organize complex materials and concepts in a clear and logical manner.
• Experience interacting with GS-15/SES level customer counterparts.
• Willing to travel occasionally (approximately 10%) to work locations or customer sites domestically.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

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

• Advanced degree in engineering or science.
• Track record of successful resolution of space system “hard problems” that resulted in mission success, increased efficiency, and/or reduced lifecycle costs.
• Demonstrated acquisition transformation mindset with ability to implement innovative acquisition strategies and approaches.
• Experience establishing new organizational capabilities or expanding Aerospace presence at customer locations.
• Programmatic, operational, and/or engineering experience with NASA/NOAA and/or NASA/USGS partnership missions.
• Existing positive relationship(s) with senior leaders, project managers, and/or mission systems engineers at NASA GSFC and/or NOAA NESDIS.
• Familiarity with ETG capabilities and the ETG matrix as well as laboratory and independent research capabilities.
• Current Secret clearance or above.

Pay

The grade-based pay range for this job is $208,000.00 - $312,000.00 annually. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Benefits

• 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.

Schedule

This is a full-time position based at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, requiring 100% onsite work.

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. We seek individuals who:

• Operate Strategically.
• Lead Change.
• Engage with Impact.
• Foster Innovation.
• Deliver Results.