Engineering Program Manager - Space Missions, Technology and Transportation

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.

Building on The Aerospace Corporation's reputation as a trusted, impartial advisor with integrity and dedication to mission success, the Civil Systems Group (CSG) combines deep technical expertise with market-leading innovation to help our customers solve complex systems engineering and integration challenges. CSG is organized by core customer-facing lines of business to manage and grow programs within NASA, NOAA, and the NNSA, while extending our capabilities to other civilian federal government agencies fully integrated within Aerospace rules, regulations, processes, values, and behaviors.

The CSG NASA Programs Division (NPD) strives to serve as the long-term strategic and trusted partner to our NASA customer providing independent advice in concept and space technology development, acquisition, systems engineering and independent assessment. We are looking for an Engineering Program Manager (Senior Project Engineer- Engineering Program Management & Systems Engineering). This position, as part of CSG NASA Programs Division, will support the Assistant General Manager for Space Missions, Technology and Transportation (SMT&T) subdivision within NPD and performing Engineering Program Management across the SMT&T portfolio. This role designs, plans, provides strategic guidance for, implements, coordinates and tracks programs, projects, and initiatives from inception through completion. This role participates in, and coordinates, contract negotiations and changes, proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions. This Senior Project Engineer acts as primary customer contact for program activities, leading customer discussions about cost, schedule and technical performance. This role establishes milestones and monitors adherence to master plans and schedules, identifies and resolves program problems related to resource allocation or contractual changes; directs the work of employees assigned to the program from technical, manufacturing, commercial and/or administrative areas. This position requires excellent customer service skills in building relationships with internal Aerospace organizations and external stakeholders across NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia.

This is a full-time position which requires 100% on-site work at an Aerospace or customer site in Greenbelt, MD.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support to the Assistant General Manager (AGM) providing overall day-to-day technical insight of on-contract tasking as well as strategic planning over the growth of Aerospace's impact in shaping the future of NASA human and science missions.
• Form and lead cross-functional pursuit teams, ensuring technical alignment and strategic value for all stakeholders.
• Provide thought leadership to shape Aerospace's long-term growth in customer support.
• Partner with engineering and analysis teams to ensure compliance, technical quality, and mission relevance.
• Define and prioritize capability gaps and technology needs for NASA missions.
• Integrate architecture, engineering, and technology experts to advance interoperability and mission resilience.
• Identify emerging technologies and best practices to strengthen future space services.
• Develop and execute cost and schedule analysis roadmaps
• Identify market trends, assess emerging needs, and position Aerospace as a trusted advisor in commercial logistics and exploration services.
• Establish and expand relationships with NASA, other government agencies, commercial primes, international partners, academic institutions, and emerging space entrants.
• Collaborate across Aerospace to integrate capabilities, staffing models, and lessons learned from prior programs.
• Lead the development of proposal strategies and technical content for new missions and capability areas.

What You Need to be Successful - Senior Project Engineer- Engineering Program Management & Systems Engineering

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Physics, Science or related technical discipline.
• Ten or more years of relevant experience in space systems engineering or program management.
• Knowledge of NASA missions, technologies, development lifecycle, development requirements, and guidelines
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic growth plans for government portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience recognizing and defining the customer's broad scope space problems
• Experience in institutional and programmatic oversight and knowledge of how NASA centers and programs allocate resources and administrate the NASA programmatic lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of NASA programs, acquisition strategies, and commercial partnerships.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across technical and executive audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in dynamic, multidisciplinary environments.
• Experience with technical assessments and flight hardware
• Demonstrated task management, execution, analysis and product development capabilities, as evidenced through examples of recent integrated products
• Ability to provide systems-based leadership in the areas of space, ground, and mission systems
• Expertise in project leadership and project management
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers
• Excellent written communication skills - organize complex technical and programmatic materials and concepts in clear and logical manner
• Excellent verbal communication skills - clear, concise, persuasive; build consensus through speaking; polished, professional style; communicates technical and programmatic expertise
• Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally to support customer needs, approximately 10%
• This position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out

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

• Advanced degree in engineering or science
• Strong executive business development, program management, and financial acumen.
• Experience with and knowledge of programmatic and portfolio analysis tools, databases, and methodologies including commercially available and in-house capabilities
• Familiarity with ETG capabilities and the ETG matrix as well as laboratory and independent research capabilities
• Experience working directly with civil space clients.
• Familiarity with government contracting mechanisms such as IDIQs, OTAs, CSOs, and SBIR/STTR pathways.
• Experience managing FFRDC, SETA, or similar advisory support to government space programs.
• Experience performing or leading technical and programmatic tasks for NASA, spanning technical, cost, schedule and risk areas
• Track record with financial reporting and CRM pipeline management tools
• Experience with current NASA management policies, practices, and systems associated with Human Exploration, Moon to Mars and Commercial Spaceflight Services
• Existing relationships with NASA Programs and Personnel

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 - $226,900.00

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