Associate Systems Director - STARS

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 Materiel 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. 

STARS, the Spacelift Telemetry Acquisition and Reporting System, is a networked, distributed processing system used to acquire, process, analyze, display, and archive launch vehicle telemetry and other data for vehicle checkout and launch activities. We are seeking an Associate Systems Director to partner with the STARS Systems Director in ensuring operational continuity while strategically planning the modernization and integration of legacy infrastructure with the STARS 2.0 cloud-based platform. 

Reporting directly to the STARS Systems Director, you will be responsible for maintaining operational excellence across three geographically distributed facility sites while simultaneously developing and executing strategic plans to modernize infrastructure, processes, and support models. This role requires someone who can improve operational and mission readiness with forward-looking transformation initiatives. You will work closely with the Systems Director to operationalize production-ready STARS 2.0 capabilities, transition support responsibilities from development teams to operations teams, and identify gaps in resources, processes, and capabilities before they become critical issues. The ideal candidate combines technical depth (cloud platforms, DevOps, systems engineering) with strong operational leadership and strategic planning skills. You must be comfortable managing mission-critical operations while driving organizational change, building consensus across diverse stakeholder groups, and making strategic decisions that balance immediate operational needs with long-term modernization goals. 

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our Aerospace Technical Campus in El Segundo, CA. 

What You'll Be Doing 

• Partner with the Systems Director to develop and execute the long-term strategic vision for STARS operations and infrastructure 

• Ensure operational continuity and mission-readiness across legacy STARS infrastructure and three geographically distributed facility sites (ATC, ER, WR) 

• Lead infrastructure modernization and process improvement initiatives, identifying gaps in resources, processes, and capabilities while anticipating future operational challenges 

• Lead the operationalization of new production-ready capabilities, including transitioning support from development teams to operations teams by implementing operational procedures and training programs 

• Develop strategies to integrate the new cloud-based analytical platform with legacy infrastructure, ensuring seamless operations during the transition 

• Recommend capital purchases and manage procurement strategy to support operational and modernization needs 

• Oversee operational coordination across multiple teams at three geographical locations working with site managers to address needs and issues 

• Communicate operational status and strategic progress to key stakeholders including Principal Director, General Manager, and program leadership 

• Support live mission operations, including availability outside of normal business hours as needed 

• Travel occasionally to launch sites (at least annually) to meet with stakeholders and field teams 

What You Need to be Successful 
Minimum Requirements for Systems Director – Engineering Program Management and Systems Engineering: 

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field (Master's preferred) 

• 12 or more years of progressively responsible professional engineering/scientific experience in aerospace, defense, or mission-critical operations environments 

• Experience in leadership or management roles with operational and strategic planning responsibility 

• Technical background in cloud platforms, software/systems engineering, and DevOps practices sufficient to understand operational challenges and empathize with technical teams 

• Experience managing operations for mission-critical systems while simultaneously driving modernization or transformation initiatives 

• Proven ability to develop strategic plans and execute them in complex, matrixed environments 

• Experience with technology transitions, particularly legacy-to-modern system migrations 

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with ability to anticipate future issues 

• Experience with budget management, procurement strategy, and resource allocation 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with executive-level reporting 

• Demonstrated ability to make strategic operational decisions under pressure 

• Experience working with government or military customers 

• Strong leadership presence with ability to influence across organizational boundaries without direct authority 

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and balance competing priorities 

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, issued by the US government. US 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: 

• 3 or more years in leadership or management roles with operational and strategic planning responsibility 

• Prior experience in launch operations, mission assurance, or similar time-sensitive aerospace/defense programs 

• Experience with STARS or similar mission-critical telemetry and data processing systems 

• Demonstrated success leading legacy-to-cloud infrastructure migrations 

• Background in both systems engineering and operations management 

• Experience building operational support models for cloud-based platforms 

• Track record of identifying and addressing operational gaps before they become critical issues 

• Experience with DevOps transitions and building operations teams to support modern software platforms 

• Proven ability to drive organizational change and process improvement in technical environments 

• Experience managing geographically distributed teams across multiple locations 

• Strong technical depth in cloud platforms (AWS preferred), microservices architecture, and distributed systems 

• Experience with government contracting, procurement regulations, or compliance requirements 

• Demonstrated success in building relationships with senior government or military officials 

• Background in change management and organizational transformation