Associate Principal Director, Software Mission Solutions Subdivision (SMSS)

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nations 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 youll be part of a special collection of problem solvers thought leaders and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) is a unique engineering division partnering across the full space enterprise to advance next-generation software and AI-enabled mission capabilities. With customers spanning the DoD Intelligence Community (IC) civil and commercial space ISCD blends expertise in modern software engineering AI/ML systems data platforms and architecture advanced cloud and edge infrastructure cybersecurity and full-stack development through mission-focused collaborative multi-disciplinary teams. These teams leverage agile software practices hands-on prototyping and applied R&D to support customer concepts digital architectures and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into mission environments.

We are seeking an innovative and energetic leader to serve as both the Associate Principal Director for SMSS and the senior ISCD leader in the National Capital Region based in Chantilly VA. This role provides integrating leadership and strategic coordination across all ISCD subdivisions and programs in the region. The Associate Principal Director will work closely with the ISCD leadership to advance the organizations mission as the corporations focal point for AI-enabled capabilities modern digital infrastructure integrating expertise across software engineering data platforms advanced infrastructure including cloud and edge platforms and applied AI/ML.

This role offers unparalleled access across the space enterprise to identify high-impact mission challenges architect scalable software solutions advance next-generation digital foundations and apply AI at scale in support of national security civil and commercial space missions. Working across commercial industry government and academia this Associate Principal Director will help shape how emerging software technologies and AI capabilities are rapidly adopted by a growing and increasingly innovative aerospace customer base while building and strengthening ISCDs presence and impact in the Chantilly region.

Work Model

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

What Youll Be Doing

The Associate Principal Director of SMSS will serve as the senior ISCD leader in the Chantilly region focusing on operational integration team development and customer engagement across all ISCD subdivisions. This leader will be instrumental in expanding Aerospaces role with East Coast customers in national security space and building partnerships across the company and community to bring the latest software engineering practices AI technologies and digital capabilities to our customers and internal engineering staff.

Within the SMSS organization this role will support the subdivisions mission to serve as:

• A technical integrator aligning software architectures data platforms AI/ML pipelines and cloud/edge infrastructure across programs
• A mission accelerator rapidly applying these capabilities to customer challenges through prototypes pilots and deployable solutions
• A continuously-evolving leader in applied research building connections to other cutting-edge organizations to accelerate innovation

This Associate Principal Director position will establish operational foundation in the National Capital Region and provide integrating leadership across all ISCD activities in Chantilly to improve team development models customer/mission connectivity and supporting operations.

Key responsibilities will include:

Chantilly Regional Leadership & Integration:

• Serve as the senior ISCD leader in the Chantilly region coordinating operations facilities infrastructure hiring workforce development and strategic planning across all ISCD subdivisions
• Build and strengthen relationships with DoD Intelligence Community and other National Capital Region customers to expand ISCDs mission portfolio and impact
• Integrate ISCD Chantilly operations including facilities coordination resource allocation and cross-subdivision collaboration
• Collaborate as core team member with broader ISCD leadership to ensure consistent culture technical excellence and operational effectiveness across ISCD

SMSS Subdivision Support:

• Support the Principal Director in executing the organizational vision strategy and technical roadmap for leveraging AI to modernize software acquisition and development operations including evaluation and adoption of emerging AI developer tools automated software composition analysis intelligent procurement support and AI-enhanced DevSecOps pipelines
• Lead and coordinate the prototyping and integration of AI/ML data platforms and cloud/edge infrastructure into cohesive mission-ready architectures
• Engage directly with customers to identify high-impact mission opportunities for AI-enabled solutions and modern digital foundations
• Support the development of new business operations and mechanisms to manage high customer demand in partnership with division leadership
• Advance the adoption of enterprise-grade data architectures including data fabrics data meshes streaming and batch pipelines and analytics platforms
• Drive innovation toward unique customer needs for secure cloud-native and hybrid architectures spanning commercial cloud government cloud on-prem and edge environments
• Contribute to and coordinate internal research and development activities spanning AI data platforms and infrastructure with emphasis on operational transition specifically for Chantilly-based customer alignment and transition opportunities

Team Development & Culture:

• Build mentor and inspire a multidisciplinary workforce spanning AI/ML data engineering cloud infrastructure platform engineering and systems integration in the Chantilly region
• Foster a collaborative inclusive culture that encourages innovation technical excellence and cross-division impact
• Partner with Aerospaces CIO and CTO organizations to align enterprise platforms internal tools and infrastructure strategies with mission-facing needs

What You Need to Be Successful

Minimum Requirements for Associate Principal Director Applied AI & Advanced Infrastructure:

• Bachelors degree in computer science data science electrical engineering computer engineering information systems or a related STEM field
• 10 or more years of experience with demonstrated impact leading multidisciplinary technical teams supporting complex government or national security missions
• Strong understanding of modern AI/ML systems including model development deployment and lifecycle management (MLOps) as well as strengths and limitations of current AI approaches
• Expertise in modern data architectures including data platforms data fabrics/meshes streaming systems analytics environments and data governance in mission contexts
• Demonstrated experience with cloud-native and hybrid infrastructure including commercial and government cloud service providers container platforms orchestration and edge computing
• Proven ability to support and execute technical strategies and roadmaps that integrate AI data and infrastructure for complex software-enabled missions
• Strong customer-facing skills with experience partnering with government stakeholders to translate mission needs into scalable digital solutions
• Success building and leading integrated multidisciplinary teams with a focus on reuse scalability and mission impact
• Experience coordinating across multiple technical organizations and fostering collaborative cross-functional environments
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Willingness to travel occasionally to work locations or customer sites (approximately 1020%)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (TS/SCI level and higher). U.S. citizenship is required

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Experience establishing or growing technical organizations or operations in new geographic regions
• Direct experience with modern AI systems focusing on automated reasoning agentic AI systems/AI agents deep reinforcement learning or similar technologies
• Hands-on experience delivering AI-enabled mission solutions including applications such as autonomous systems space domain awareness cyber detection predictive analytics digital engineering or physics-informed ML
• Deep familiarity with secure and multi-level environments including cross-domain architectures and AI/data deployment across classification boundaries
• Exposure to space defense or intelligence mission areas such as space control missile warning remote sensing or commercial space data exploitation
• Experience managing research and development portfolios including transitioning research into operational systems or sustained mission use
• Established relationships with National Capital Region customers in DoD or Intelligence Community space programs

We offer a competitive compensation package where youll 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)

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 otherthe 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 equalopportunity 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 colorreligiongeneticinformation 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 youre 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 emailat .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.