Business Development Senior Project Leader- NASA Programs

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, objective 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 technical programs within NASA, NOAA, NNSA, and other Federal agencies, while extending our capabilities to other non-Federal organizations, when in the national interest.
The Civil Systems Group is seeking a highly motivated and accomplished Business Development Senior Project Leader, NASA Programs (Senior Project Leader - Business Development Strategy & Planning) to lead new program development across our NASA portfolio. This individual will serve as a critical interface between our technical teams, NASA program leadership, and NASA customer base, driving growth through strategy, capture, and execution of complex system engineering and integration engagements for CSG's NASA Programs Division. The ideal candidate will drive new business growth by shaping new opportunities, leading capture efforts, managing key accounts, and building strong relationships with NASA Centers and JPL. The ideal candidate brings both technical credibility and business development expertise - combining a strong STEM background with proven experience in pipeline development, capture management, proposal leadership, and go-to-market execution.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Houston, TX.
What You'll Be Doing

• Lead technical business development activities addressing emerging NASA program system engineering and integration (SE&I) goals, objectives and requirements flow down, including new initiatives supporting Artemis, LEO system development and new missions and programs
• Develop, refine, and execute business development (BD) strategies, account plans, and go-to-market approaches by NASA center, aligned to NASA Programs Division goals
• Manage the NASA Programs Division pipeline, metrics, and reporting through CRM and BI tools
• Support emerging goals, objectives, and requirements flow down for new initiatives, including supporting the Texas Space Commission and the broader Texas commercial space sector
• Engage with stakeholders to understand evolving acquisition related strategies in support of Artemis and Commercial LEO development programs
• Provide engineering technical writing expertise as well as technical baseline management skills
• Develop roadmaps and schedules that align with customer requirements and Aerospace capabilities
• Facilitate meetings with NASA and other customers and external teams to gather detailed SE&I requirements to ensure missions success and drive towards an agreed to integrated roadmap
• Serve as the primary point of contact between Aerospace management and customer program office teams
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify resources, capabilities, and potential risks, providing feedback and updates to key stakeholders

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in STEM from an accredited program.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible technical experience including direct hands-on experience in business development, account management and program management roles with civil agencies and/or the commercial sector, preferably with employment experience with an FFRDC, UARC, or federally funded laboratory
• Strong knowledge of BD strategy and planning, capture management, pipeline development, proposal development and account management
• Experience with NASA or federal government contracting
• Strong understanding of program management processes, technical requirements, and operational execution
• Strong technical writing skills and digital environment skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with both internal teams and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities and projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with program objectives and timelines
• Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally
• This position requires at least a current and active secret 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
• Direct expertise supporting and building NASA partnerships
• Current and strong working relationships with NASA across the agency
• Experience with life cycle review management and knowledge of technical disciplines related to aerospace systems and programs
• Understanding of space exploration, human health and performance spaceflight challenges
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft 365 and related collaboration technologies
• Experience using CRM platforms (e.g., MS Dynamics, Salesforce) for BD pipeline management

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.