Space Forces Component Operations Lead

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.

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 Materiel 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.

As part of the Space Enterprise and Warfighting Division, our Space Warfighting Directorate provides high-quality analytic support to the United States Space Force (USSF), United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), and the USSF Space Component Field Commands. This position serves as a Space Forces Component Operations Lead (Senior Project Engineer – Technical Project Management), based in Colorado Springs, CO, with strong ties to the Component Field Commands and the broader Aerospace backplane. We are seeking an experienced subject matter expert and highly motivated senior leader to help bridge operations and engineering. This role ensures Aerospace's technical space domain expertise and analytic rigor are focused on the most important problems facing the USSF Space Component Field Commands. The candidate will work as part of a leadership team within the Space Warfighting Directorate to understand, prioritize, and translate component operational needs into Aerospace analysis, modeling, and concept work that delivers maximum value to our customers in space and joint warfighting.

This position is primarily based on-site in Colorado Springs with moderate travel to USSF Component Field Commands, Combatant Commands, and other CONUS locations as required.

What You'll Be Doing

• Serve as Aerospace's senior operational lead for USSF Space Component Field Commands, with an initial focus on SPACEFOR-INDOPAC, SPACEFOR-CENT, and SPACEFOR-SPACE (S4S), while leading buildup of Aerospace support to SPACEFOR-EURAF, -SOUTH, -NORTH, and the SOCOM Space Element.
• Maintain a continuous operational picture of component needs and priorities, including missions, OPLANs, named operations, and major exercises, and how components interact with CSpOC, NSDC, JOPC, and other service Operational Centers.
• Act as a coherent "voice on space warfighting" representing USSF and USSPACECOM perspectives, helping clarify roles and expectations when the enterprise inquires.
• Work as part of a Space Warfighting leadership team to understand a prioritized set of component needs, focus Aerospace resources on the most consequential problems in space and joint warfighting, and ensure the broader Aerospace backplane (Engineering and Technology Group, Civil Support Group, National Systems Group, program offices) is aligned on those priorities.
• As Aerospace's representative in component environments, translate operational needs into technical work.
• Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams of technical contributors supporting component operations, analysis, and planning; provide operational context, prioritize tasks, and facilitate communications across Aerospace and government stakeholders.
• Serve as a senior mentor and integrator for Aerospace personnel embedded at Component Field Commands (e.g., SPACECENT) and supporting from reachback.
• Support planning and execution of space operations in component, CCMD, and joint venues.
• Coordinate technical efforts across program/project lines, leveraging Aerospace expertise to develop component-relevant space employment concepts/mission threads and conduct concept exploration/program definition studies for USSF capabilities supporting component and CCMD missions.
• Advocate for component space requirements and evaluate future space system capabilities from an operational perspective, helping component staffs define space capability needs to support warfighting plans and objectives.
• Network and collaborate across USSF, USSPACECOM, other Services, government agencies, FFRDCs, UARCs, and SETA contractors.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Senior Project Engineer – Technical Project Management

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, operations, or other technical or military science discipline from a recognized institution.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible technical or operational experience in space systems, space operations, theater/joint military operations, systems integration, or a combination of these areas.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage major program segments or large analyses in an operational context.
• Functional awareness/working knowledge of USSF warfighting capabilities and operations, including how space capabilities are presented by the Service and employed by USSPACECOM and Component Commands.
• Experience with operations of space systems and/or command and control in a joint warfighting environment, including familiarity with supported/supporting relationships across CCMDs.
• Understanding of theater space interaction within JADC2, CSpOC, NSDC, and component headquarters, and how those organizations coordinate during competition, crisis, and conflict.
• Background in one or more of the following mission areas: missile warning/OPIR (Overhead Persistent Infrared), space domain awareness, space electromagnetic warfare, SATCOM, NAVWAR (Navigation Warfare), or BMC2 (Battle Management Command and Control).
• Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor and spokesperson in front of senior military/civilian leaders and represent Aerospace in customer environments and coordinate budgets, tasks, and priorities as needed.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and familiarity with Department of Defense (DoD) acronyms, processes, and joint terminology.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers at all levels, including senior military and civilian leaders.
• Proven ability to network, build, and work within multidisciplinary teams across organizations and geographic locations.
• A current SSBI and possess (or be immediately eligible for) a Top Secret/SCI clearance and access, issued by the U.S. Government.
• Ability to travel domestically (and occasionally internationally) to Component Field Commands, CCMDs, and other customer locations.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Master's degree or greater in a technical discipline (engineering, physics, mathematics, space operations, or related field).
• Active-duty military experience in space operations, joint operations, or senior enlisted/officer leadership roles.
• Direct experience with USSF Space Component Field Commands, CSpOC/NSDC, or USSPACECOM headquarters.
• Experience in CENTCOM, INDOPACOM, EUCOM, NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, SOCOM, STRATCOM, or CYBERCOM operations.
• Experience in or with Joint Staff and/or Combatant Command strategic and operational planning processes.
• Deep operational and/or technical experience with one or more USSF capability areas (e.g., SDA, EW, SATCOM, NAVWAR, MW/OPIR, C2/BM).
• Experience and understanding of the USSF and USSPACECOM approaches to warfighting and readiness, including the interplay between Service force presentation and CCMD supported/supporting relationships.
• Knowledge of man-made threats to the space domain and how they manifest in component and theater operations.
• Familiarity with Aerospace's analytic and engineering capabilities or similar "backplane" organizations.
• Experience working large, complex issues and the ability to break down problems into meaningful steps to accomplish with a team.
• Track record of mentoring and developing junior technical and operational staff.
• Current applicable SAP/SAR accesses.

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)

$151,300.00 - $226,900.00Pay 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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.