General Manager- Federal & Commercial Programs (F&CP)

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.
We are seeking a growth oriented General Manager, with a strong mix of technical expertise, business acumen, and customer focus, to lead and integrate the Federal & Commercial Programs (F&CP) division. This position will report to the Senior Vice President of the Civil Systems Group (SVP, CSG). The Federal & Commercial Programs division offers deep technical expertise and cutting-edge innovation to support the United States government to solve some of the most complex systems engineering and integration challenges within complex, high-consequence environments. The General Manager will possess a proven ability to run a Profit and Loss center with a highly diverse customer set, while making sure resource allocation decisions maximize a return on investment. Do you want to do work that makes a positive difference for the nation and national security by leading an elite team? This is the opportunity!
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Crystal City, VA
What You'll Be Doing

• Overall leadership and management of Federal & Commercial Programs division. Develop division vision, strategy, and objectives consistent with corporate goals and initiatives and customer expectations. Provide direction and planning for achieving both strategic and tactical goals.
• Establish trusted relationships with key senior space leaders at multiple echelons across key NOAA, NASA, FAA, and commercial organizations. Establish and maintain Aerospace's positive reputation with new and existing customers as a problem solver and thought leader that works at the enterprise level. Anticipate future customer needs and evolve an agile, high-quality technical and enterprise support work force (on-site and matrix) to respond at speed.
• Lead and support cross-corporation and cross-organizational teams to execute studies and analysis activities of national significance. Foster appropriate cooperation and coordination across the space enterprise to help assure enterprise mission success.
• Maintain division focus on mission success from cradle to grave across the portfolio, track and communicate the risk posture, and facilitate enterprise teams as appropriate to provide viable solutions to mitigate mission risk and promote mission viability and strategic alignment to national policy.
• Provide strategic leadership and support to the government planning and implementation of policy, acquisition, and requirements initiatives for developing architectural alternatives, assessing system acquisitions, budgets, and rationalizing investment portfolios.
• Operate F&CP division according to Aerospace core principles; creating and instilling a culture characterized by agility, speed, information sharing and continuous learning.
• Position Aerospace in the highest value functions across the customer portfolio, translate customer technical operating plans into technical priorities, manage budget constraints, plan and execute staffing as required.
• Provide strategic leadership and support to the government planning and implementation of policy, acquisition, and requirements initiatives for developing architectural alternatives, assessing system acquisitions, budgets, and rationalizing investment portfolios.
• Provide leadership for team members, setting expectations and direction, mentoring, providing critical feedback, succession planning, and coaching aimed at developing an agile management team and technical staff.

What You Need to Be Successful
Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or closely related technical field
• 15 or more years of relevant experience with program management of highly complex and technical multi-disciplinary systems engineering in a program, project, and policy oversight environment.
• Proven financial, business and technical leadership and management experience, with multi-million-dollar budgets
• Familiarity with systems engineering methodologies and lifecycle processes
• Strong understanding of both federal and commercial acquisition processes, especially federal procurement cycles, and commercial contracting mechanisms.
• Ability to deliver strategic plans aligned with corporate and customer priorities and positioning the international portfolio for sustainable performance and growth, demonstrating agility in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with federal contracting, compliance, and regulatory frameworks
• Excellent verbal communication skills - clear, concise, persuasive; builds consensus through speaking; polished, professional style.
• Excellent written communication skills - organize complex materials and concepts in clear and logical manner.
• Ability to travel up to 25% to other customer and Aerospace locations.
• 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:

• Technical master's degree, international-related masters degree, masters of business administration
• In-depth management experience with STE budgets, staff development, planning, and customer accounts
• Established professional network within U.S. Federal Agencies like DoC, NOAA, USGS, DHS, FCC, & FAA, and leading commercial space primes, and supply chains.
• Experience with current Aerospace management policies, practices, and systems
• Familiarity of Aerospace's ETG matrix and associated expertise, skills, tools, analytical capabilities, computing resources and laboratory facilities
• Knowledge of emerging commercial space markets (launch services, Earth observation, satellite communications, in-space services etc.)
• Familiarity with government contracting mechanisms such as IDIQs, OTAs, CSOs, CRADAs, and SBIR/STTR pathways.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) and/or Lean Six Sigma certification.

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 310.336.5432 or by email at [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.