Space System Architect at The Aerospace Coporation in Chantilly, VA
- Company: The Aerospace Coporation
- Location: Chantilly, VA
- Posted: Sep 24, 2026
- Type: Full-time
- Salary: $100,300.00 - $150,400.00
- Experience: 5+ years
Overview
Lead and participate in architecture studies of complex system concepts, to include multi-disciplinary engineering teams, supporting problem framing, gap analysis, and trade space assessment Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel as a technical subject matter expert t…
Responsibilities
- Lead and participate in architecture studies of complex system concepts, to include multi-disciplinary engineering teams, supporting problem framing, gap analysis, and trade space assessment
- Work with Aerospace program office, customer, and contractor personnel as a technical subject matter expert to elicit and identify needs, requirements, and constraints for studies; mentor junior staff; support the scoping, planning, and execution of the study; and effectively communicate task status, methods, results, and recommendations in briefings and formal technical reports
- Define system capabilities, system of systems interfaces, and requirements for space and intersegment system architectures to address user needs and perspectives
Requirements
- B.S. in engineering, science, or a related technical field and at least 3-5 years of industry experience
- M.S. in engineering, science, or a related technical field and at least 2 years of industry experience
- Engineering experience in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains
- Proficiency in system or enterprise architecting, systems engineering, concept design, and/or model-based systems engineering
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present methods and results effectively in briefings, formal reports, and informal communications
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with teams, customers, Aerospace program offices, and contractors; to collaborate with other functional organizations within Aerospace; and to mentor and develop junior staff
- Exceptional time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and schedule commitments
- Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approx. 5-10%
- A current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
- It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
- Ph.D. in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline
- Demonstrated initiative to innovate, shape, drive, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tasks, projects, or organizations
- Demonstrated success in organizing and leading cross-functional, cross-organizational teams to execute studies and assessments and generate quality products
- Hands-on experience with system or enterprise modeling in the Systems Modeling Language (SysML), Unified Architecture Framework (UAF), or Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM)
- Experience working closely with key Aerospace customer agencies in the defense and intelligence communities, including strong knowledge of their domain and strong professional networks
Skills
Required
- System or enterprise architecting
- Systems engineering
- Concept design
- Model-based systems engineering
- Excellent oral and written communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Time-management
- Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance
Preferred
- Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
- Unified Architecture Framework (UAF)
- Initiative to innovate
- Leading cross-functional teams
Benefits
- 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.
- 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)
- $100,300.00 - $150,400.00
- Pay Basis: Annual
About The Aerospace Coporation
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 Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a wide-ranging and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities. The Architecture Concepts Department (ArCon) provides expertise in architecture methods, processes, and tools to an extremely broad range of customers, including National Space Security (NSS) and other defense programs, NASA, NOAA, NNSA, DHS, and others. ArCon staff participate in and lead architecture trade studies, architecture conceptualization studies, architecture modeling tasks, and program assessment analyses at multiple levels of complexity, ranging from prototype systems to full scale acquisition systems in the space, ground, communications, and network domains. ArCon applies disciplined system architecting principles and leads cross-functional teams to provide impactful guidance to assist our customers in making key acquisition and operations decisions. Right Place The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges. Right Path Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development. Right Purpose We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it. Return to the Aerospace Careers site.