Aerospace Engineer-SME

Overview Aerospace Engineer-SME; SETA Support Location: Los Angeles Air Force Base; in person/hybrid. Not remote

Job Type: Full-Time

Clearance: Active Top Secret Citizenship: U.S. Citizen

Travel: Occasional travel may be required (10%)

Salary Range: $130,000 + annually*

• depending on experience, certifications, and qualifications

We are seeking a Senior Aerospace Engineer to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to Space Systems Command, Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SN), located at Los Angeles Air Force Base. The selected candidate will support the acquisition, development, integration, test, launch, operations, sustainment, and modernization of space-based missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence capabilities.

The engineer will provide enterprise-level systems engineering and integration support across space, ground, communications, and mission-support segments, including Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) GEO and Polar systems, FORGE, RGS, Resilient Missile Warning Track, and related OPIR sensor capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level aerospace systems engineering and technical advisory support across the full acquisition lifecycle.
• Support requirements development, decomposition, validation, verification, traceability, and configuration control.
• Conduct system-of-systems engineering and integration across space, ground, launch, communications, and operational mission segments.
• Support architecture development using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Digital Engineering, and mission-thread analysis.
• Evaluate technical baselines, interfaces, system performance, risks, dependencies, and readiness.
• Support program reviews, engineering review boards, configuration control boards, technical interchange meetings, IPTs, working groups, and milestone reviews.
• Analyze technical discrepancies, anomalies, deficiencies, and interface issues; develop corrective actions and closure documentation.
• Support launch integration, early orbit operations, on-orbit checkout, operational readiness, and transition to sustainment.
• Review and assess contractor engineering products, including Systems Engineering Plans, Interface Control Documents, specifications, verification plans, test reports, risk assessments, and CDRL deliverables.
• Develop and maintain integrated master schedule inputs, critical-path analyses, risk registers, dependency/giver-receiver lists, and mitigation plans.
• Support mission area analysis for Missile Warning, Missile Defense, Battlespace Awareness, and Technical Intelligence.
• Assess the maturity and integration of ground processing, mission data, sensor fusion, command-and-control, and reporting capabilities.
• Support cybersecurity, system safety, mission assurance, resiliency, reliability, maintainability, and program protection activities.
• Coordinate with SSC organizations, mission partners, operational users, USSTRATCOM, the Intelligence Community, Missile Defense Agency, Space Delta 4, and other government and industry stakeholders.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, technical assessments, decision papers, status reports, and acquisition documentation.
• Identify technical, schedule, cost, and performance risks and recommend Courses of Action (COAs).
• Mentor junior engineers and support cross-functional engineering teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 15 years of relevant aerospace, space systems, defense acquisition, or systems engineering experience.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense or Space Force acquisition programs.
• Experience with space systems, missile warning, missile tracking, missile defense, satellite systems, ground systems, or mission operations.
• Experience with requirements management, technical baseline management, systems integration, verification and validation, and risk management.
• Knowledge of the DoD acquisition lifecycle and applicable policies, processes, and standards.
• Strong technical writing, briefing, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with government, contractor, operational, and senior leadership stakeholders.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous supervisory or team-lead experience, including the ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, assign and prioritize work, mentor personnel, manage performance, and coordinate deliverables across government and contractor organizations.
• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering or technical field.
• Experience supporting SSC, Missile Warning, OPIR, SBIRS, FORGE, or related programs.
• Familiarity with AFI 63-101/20-101, AFI 63-1201, DoDI 5000.02, MIL-STD-882E, NIST SP 800-160, and applicable space safety and acquisition guidance.
• Experience with MBSE, Digital Engineering, Agile development, DevSecOps, and model-based mission assurance.
• Experience with launch integration, on-orbit operations, ground segment integration, sensor fusion, or TCPED processes.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

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