Principal Director Special Projects 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 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 National Systems Group serves as the technical advisor to the Intelligence Community and its mission partners involved in the collection and distribution of national and tactical intelligence, including electronics programs, advanced technologies, ground and communications, imagery programs, and systems engineering and launch.

The National Intelligence Division is looking for the new Principal Director for their Special Projects Directorate. The Principal Director leads Aerospace’s support to a major U.S. Government agency, including directing in-house technical staff, arranging and managing technical reachback capabilities, interfacing with government customers, and oversight of the directorate’s contracting status and performance. The selected candidate will provide management oversight and orchestrate technical leadership for acquisition, development, research, and operations support efforts spanning multiple customer lines of effort. The selected candidate will also execute line management functions including staffing, mentoring, and strategic planning across the directorate’s portfolio. The Principal Director will be the face of Aerospace to our customers at this agency and will need to demonstrate exemplary written and verbal communication skills, as well as exercise sound technical and management judgment. This position is a direct report to the National Intelligence Division’s General Manager and includes corporate leadership responsibilities and assignments.

Work Model

This full-time position is based in Chantilly, VA and requires 100% onsite work.

What You’ll Be Doing

Establishing strategic direction and objectives to the Special Projects Directorate consistent with corporate goals, customer needs, and assigned functions, and clearly communicate expectations to staff

Leading the directorate’s development, discovery, and retention of staff talent

Working closely with government technical leaders to identify challenges and provide timely, relevant, and high-quality solutions

Working with government contracts personnel to ensure timely satisfaction of contractual deliveries and requirements

Ensuring timely and accurate reporting of program information to senior Aerospace and customer leaders

Maintaining understanding of current and future customer needs and applying in-house and reachback support to best satisfy these needs

Encouraging and curating new ideas, tools, skills, processes, and creative thinking to sustain and expand directorate capabilities spanning concept design through development, deployment, and operations

Managing technical and business functions on corporate unclassified networks and customer classified networks

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Principal Director

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a STEM field or relevant technical discipline.

13 or more years of progressively responsible, applicable experience in systems engineering, program management, or other relevant field

Previous personnel management experience and the ability to perform resource planning, staffing, mentoring, performance assessments, and other personnel management functions

Recognized ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of corporate staff, government customers, and contractors

Superior verbal and written communication skills

A current TS/SCI security clearance with SSBI, issued by the US government, and a successfully adjudicated counter-intelligence polygraph. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Ability to occasionally travel within the continental United States (10-20% of time)

How You Can Stand Out

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

Prior experience managing customer-facing teams including developing organizational strategy and goals, managing leaders or senior staff, recruitment, performance management, development of talent

Cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills, with the ability to make critical decisions and influence others

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a strategic business development plan

Demonstrated contract management skills including financial performance tracking and ensuring required deliverables

Ability to thrive in a dynamic, exciting environment with rapidly evolving priorities

The successful adjudication of a full-scope polygraph exam at least once in the candidate’s professional career

An adjudicated counter-intelligence polygraph or full-scope polygraph within the last 5 years

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

A 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 or by email at . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

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