AFRL Program Lead at The Aerospace Corporation — Kirtland AFB, NM

The Advanced Technology and Concepts (ATC) organization within the Space Innovation Directorate (SID) leads the Aerospace team supporting the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) executed with the Air Force and Space Force. AFRL leads research and development for the Air Force and Space Force and develops prototypes and advanced technology demonstrators across the Department of War. The AFRL Program Lead will be the customer interface, providing assistance and oversight for technology development programs and mission development, systems engineering and operations planning for technology demonstrations and space experiments / prototypes both with the Space Force and with the Air Force Research Laboratory. Additionally, this project engineer will source subject matter expertise from within the Engineering and Technology Group to solve the customer’s hardest problems.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Integration of Aerospace expertise and analysis to provide responsive recommendations to Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) customer leadership for multiple, diverse on-going programs and new programs added to the portfolio
• Actively communicate and coordinate across organizations, management, and customers to ensure timely, high-quality development and delivery of strategies, analyses, risk assessments and recommendations
• Integrate and leverage all aspects/functions/capability of the Aerospace Corporation in executing the mission portfolio through virtual teaming, backplane engagement, ETG matrix, etc.
• Work closely with members of a diverse team of military, government civilians, prime contractors, SE&I contractors, FFRDCs and National Laboratories. Work closely with Aerospace Labs, communities, and internal development projects to generate collaboration with AFRL projects
• Work with a team of Aerospace employees and government customers in development of AFRL space and ground experiments.
• Actively participate in customer senior decision forums. Elevate Aerospace’s strategic value to the Space Force through the objective evaluation of alternative mission designs, technical advice on Space Vehicle acquisitions, and optimized support to integration and launch.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements Project Engineer - Enterprise Systems Engineering:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program
• 8 or more years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering or program management
• Demonstrated leadership skills within a program office or matrixed technical organization, leading project teams, formulating task plans, ensuring product quality and effective interactions with customers, FFRDC and SETA personnel
• Ability to work in a self-motivated and directed manner with senior customer personnel on a variety of technical, programmatic, and administrative issues, in a customer field-office environment, is required.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; experience presenting and writing technical information
• Occasional travel required
• This position requires the ability to obtain a TS/SCI with SSBI, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Sr. Project Engineer – Enterprise Systems Engineering include:

• 12 or more years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering or program management
• Leadership experience within a program office or matrixed technical organization, leading project teams, formulating task plans, ensuring product quality and effective interactions with customers, FFRDC and SETA personnel

How You Can Stand Out

• Knowledge of Aerospace’s Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) skills and capabilities
• Knowledge of Space Force acquisitions and experience interfacing with USAF/USSF/SAF leadership
• Experience with program execution from initiation of acquisition strategy and proposal development through source selection support; to program design, development, integration and test; to launch and early orbit; continuing through operations.
• An excellent personal technical reputation and a record of personal technical achievement
• Program office experience
• Demonstrated ability to form and lead small, high-performance teams
• Working knowledge of expertise from across the Aerospace corporation, especially subject matter experts and laboratory operations with the ability to support customer needs

(Min - Max)

$117,300.00 - $226,900.00

Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

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

Ways We Reward Our Employees

• 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

Equal Opportunity Commitment