2027 Commercial Space Account Associate

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.

The Civil Systems Group (CSG) is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Commercial Space Account Associate (Business Development Staff II) as a Customer Support Account Lead to our Direct Commercial Programs (DCP) Directorate. This Line of Business (LOB) is responsible for providing full lifecycle independent assessments, systems engineering and integration (SE&I) support, and mission assurance to companies across the commercial space enterprise. In conjunction with the Federal & Commercial Programs Systems Director, and other CSG account managers, 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.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, onsite at our facility in Crystal City, VA.

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 strategy, planning, development, pursuit, and capture of opportunities, consistent with corporate policies/practices, goals, and business development objectives.
- 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.
- 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.
- Review, update, and maintain customer information and business development pipeline databases on a regular basis.
- Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed
- Training and mentorship will be provided

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring

- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Must work well in a team environment
- Possess organizational, time management and project management skills
- Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
- Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

- Master’s degree from an accredited college/university program in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, space studies or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
- 0-1 year industry experience
- Experience developing and capturing space industry products or services with demonstrated ability to close new business opportunities with commercial companies.
- 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.
- Experience using enterprise class Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software with accountability for qualified pipeline and other performance metrics.
- 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.
- Willing to travel domestically approx. 25%
- This position may require 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:

- An advanced degree in engineering discipline and/or business administration.
- 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 space customers.
- Experience in a variety of program office and/or technical engineering roles.

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)
$100,000.00 - $110,000.00

Pay 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:

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Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

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Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

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Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

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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

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Flexible spending accounts

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Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

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Relocation assistance

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Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

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Education assistance programs