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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

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 Civil Systems Group (CSG) is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Business Development Specialist as the Customer Support Account Manager to Civil Space Programs Business and Strategy Development.

This Line of Business (LOB) is responsible for providing full lifecycle independent assessments, systems engineering and integration (SE&I) support, and mission assurance to agencies and companies across the federal, commercial, and related complex systems enterprise.

In conjunction with the Federal & Commercial Programs Systems Director, the candidate selected for this position will be responsible for strategic and business development dimensions of relationships within the federal and commercial community markets to deliver SE&I FFRDC value for our customers.

This includes working with various Aerospace LOB leaders to establish and evolve our growth strategy and plans aligned with customer needs, value propositions, long-term opportunity identification, and capture execution.

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, Crystal City, VA or Chantilly, VA area that allows for 1-2 days per week telecommuting depending on the needs of the team and customer.

What You’ll Be Doing

Partner with Direct Commercial Line of Business (LOB) leadership in defining future value growth strategies and plans across the US and Allied space industrial base.

Lead the strategy, planning, development, pursuit, and capture of opportunities, consistent with corporate policies / practices, goals, and business development objectives.

• Own the customer growth strategy and positioning processes. Think and act strategically. Provide thought leadership for strategic planning cycles.
• Seek and identify opportunities for additional, expanded, and new business. Assist management in the evaluation, pursuit, and capture of near- and long-term opportunities.
• Maintain and expand customer relationships across the federal civil space and other federal and commercial entity landscape, and partner with program and project management personnel to ensure customer needs are met.
• Engage with the targeted accounts regularly and maintain effective relationships with customer decision-makers. Establish and maintain a reputation with customers as a problem solver and thought leader.
• Understand customer issues and requirements. Be the voice of the customer to communicate these needs within the LOB leadership and the Aerospace capture and proposal teams.

Engage Aerospace senior executives with each customer’s leadership and act as the recognized face to the customer in support of Aerospace leadership.

• Work as part of an integrated team consisting of account representatives and experts in capture management, proposal management, program management, program execution, administration, and technical applications.
• Support interfaces to Aerospace contracts, legal, and pricing for managing contract vehicles.
• Lead multiple concurrent opportunities through a structured capture process.
• Report and track : (1) growth against strategic plan goals; (2) resource expenditure actual vs. planned; (3) opportunity pipeline;

and (4) Evolution of Account plans; and (5) return on investment.

• Participate with management in determining organization's structure and staffing.
• Participate in budget planning and allocation of resources.
• Implement best practices and operating processes. Recommend strategies, innovations, and improvements to management.
• Report organization's activities, progress, and achievements through written and oral reports to management, subordinates, and customers.
• Monitor and direct organization's security processes, compliance, and safety awareness.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline
• At least 6 years of progressively responsible technical experience including direct hands-on experience in business development, account management and program management roles with a variety of federal government and / or commercial customers
• Experience developing and capturing science, technology, or engineering opportunities with demonstrated ability to close new business opportunities in the range of 10 to 100 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs), preferably with a civil agency for an FFRDC, UARC, or federally funded laboratory.
• Ability to work both as part of a geographically distributed team and autonomously. Knowledge of, and experience with federal and commercial programs, budgets, and market drivers.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to define a strategy, develop and communicate business capture plans, execute plans, and / or direct individuals in other organizations to support the execution of elements of those plans.
• Experience managing business development investment budgets, allocations, and reporting.
• Experience using enterprise class Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software with accountability for qualified pipeline and other performance metrics.
• Significant experience in a supervisory role; and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of customers and corporate staff.
• Competency in the use of Microsoft 365 and collaboration technologies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 5-20%
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a Secret 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 :

• An advanced degree in an engineering discipline and / or business administration.
• More than 6 years of progressively responsible technical experience including direct hands-on experience in business development, account management and program management roles with a variety of federal government and / or commercial customers
• An established network with a range of federal civil government and commercial customers.
• Experience in a variety of program office and / or technical engineering roles.
• Experience with current FFRDC management policies, practices, and systems.
• Current TS / SCI security clearance.

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 - Mid - Max)

$48 - $64 - $81Pay 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 diverse 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.

Last updated : 2024-03-23