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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Director - Advanced Systems - **Company:** The Aerospace Corporation - **Location:** El Segundo, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Salary:** $208,000.0 - $312,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Decision Support Systems, SAP (Applications), Systems Integration - **Published:** September 17, 2026 - **Apply:** https://aero.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/El-Segundo-CA/Principal-Director---Advanced-Systems_R016628 ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent area * 15 or more years of progressively demonstrated management and technical experience * Experience with building, leading, and maintaining integrated multidisciplinary mixed government, SE&I, SETA and FFRDC teams. * Experience solving integration challenges between programs * Experience delivering results by influencing key stakeholders * Experience with processes associated with a government system acquisition and lifecycle. * Experience building and maintaining effective interpersonal relations with internal and external organizations such as with customers, Aerospace, contractors, or related * Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills * Ability to travel as required (approx. 20%) * This position requires an active Top Secret / SCI clearance with ability to obtain Special Access Programs (SAP) and maintain clearance, issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. How You Can Stand Out It would be nice if you had one or more of these: * Advanced technical degree in a STEM field of equivalent area * 15 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience * Experience in military satellite communication programs * Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with government program team leaders * Demonstrated management experience and skills including budgeting, staff development, and strategic planning * Prior management role in direct support of a government customer in program office * Prior experience working within a classified program office * Current Special Access (SAP) clearance ## Description 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 Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers' portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems. The Communication and Navigation Capabilities Division (CNCD) supports the critical government systems that compose the United States Space Force's Satellite Communications & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (SCPNT) portfolio. The Advanced Systems Subdivision within CNCD supports a highly diversified set of space system acquisitions and operational support for advanced communication capabilities, narrowband communication systems, and other classified activities. Within the Advanced Systems portfolio, Aerospace is relied on as a key partner and enables the government's rapid execution of acquisitions and fielding systems to the warfighter. The Principal Director for Advanced Systems will lead a growing set of exciting missions and customers, driving a vision and strategy for the subdivision and its government programs. The position will require engagement and delivery of technical strategies to corporate leaders and senior government officials. This position will also require working across multiple stakeholders, including the government, SE&I contractors, FFRDC partners, and other industry partners. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA. What You'll Be Doing * Lead Aerospace teams supporting a wide range of communication programs, including acquisition efforts and support to operations and sustainment * Serve as a senior advisor to the Government in the development of enterprise strategies for advanced communication systems * Provide senior technical guidance within teams of Government, Aerospace, support contractors, and other FFRDC personnel to monitor program efforts, identify and resolve technical and performance integration risks/issues * Manage and grow Aerospace support to a geographically diversified customer base * Lead the organization in setting strategy, goals, and expectations; developing, mentoring, and driving engagement of staff, identification and retention of talent. * Exemplify Aerospace corporate values of objectivity and integrity when serving as a trusted agent to senior government customers * Conduct budget planning and allocation of resources, including identifying and hiring to fill needed positions and coordinating ETG support * Manage classified facilities at ATC, including working with Facilities, EIS, Aerospace security, and government security officials and their support contractors ## Related Videos - [Crew Management System for Airlines: Plan duties for pilots & flight attendants worldwide](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1444-crew-management-system-for-airlines-plan-duties-for-pilots-flight-attendants-worldwide) - [Independently together: how micro-applications improve developer experience + app performance](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/452-independently-together-how-micro-applications-improve-developer-experience-app-performance) - [AI Agents & Agentic AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2017-ai-agents-agentic-ai) - [Augmented Intelligence for transport planning: Human in the Loop Modelling](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/72-augmented-intelligence-for-transport-planning-human-in-the-loop-modelling) - [You’re a great coder? 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