Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capabilities Advisor - Department of the Air Force (DAF)

About this role

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.

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 Material 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.

We are seeking a Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capabilities Advisor to provide technical support and thought leadership to various DAF Data and AI strategy and implementation initiatives.  The selected candidate will lead high-impact studies and sponsor engagements that inform strategic investment, acquisition planning, policy and program decisions.

This role will provide objective expertise, independent analysis, and strategic guidance to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ) and independent technical analysis and systems engineering insight to inform space acquisition, integration, and enterprise decision-making involving data-driven and AI-enabled solutions. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, onsite in Arlington, VA to include the Aerospace facility in Crystal City, the Pentagon and associated facilities.   

What You’ll Be Doing • Provide objective, non-advocacy technical advice to the DAF on the application of AI and solutions across space systems, architectures, and acquisition portfolios. • Assess technology readiness, implementation risk, and integration challenges for AI, machine learning, autonomy, and cyber technologies in space acquisition programs • Support enterprise capability development and integration, including mission thread analysis and cross-program integration studies and activities • Advise on acquisition and integration strategies • Develop technical roadmaps, trade studies, and decision-quality products to support senior SAF/SQ, Space Force, and OSW stakeholders • Coordinate with Aerospace technical experts, SSC, AFRL, USSF, and other FFRDC partners to ensure coherent, end-to-end technical insight • Prepare and deliver clear, concise briefings and written assessments translating complex technical analysis into actionable recommendations • Deliver results on time-sensitive staff inquiries and provide technical support in the development of position papers and official responses to Congress, the Office of the Secretary of War, and the Intelligence Community (IC) • The selected candidate must work effectively in an onsite environment with the customer and work with senior Government leaders, contractors, other government agencies, the various Aerospace program offices, and the Aerospace Engineering and Technical Group (ETG) to address issues and provide the customer with the best available technical analyses and recommendations to ensure coherent, end-to-end technical insight

What You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements Senior Project Engineer – Artificial Intelligence and Data Science/Big Data Mining: • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical field • 12 or more years of demonstrated technical depth in one or more of the following areas: • Artificial intelligence • Space systems engineering and architectures • Digital engineering and model-based systems engineering (MBSE)

• Proven ability to work effectively with high-functioning teams composed of, for example, government, civilians, military personnel, co-located FFRDC, and SETA contractors • Understanding of space acquisition, integration, and lifecycle processes within the Department of the Air Force or U.S. Space Force. • Strong technical writing and executive briefing abilities • This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD 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: • Advanced degree in engineering, mathematics, science, computer science, or other technical discipline • Prior experience supporting SAF/SQ, Space Systems Command (SSC), SAF/AQ, USSF headquarters, or DoW space organizations. • Familiarity with Aerospace Corporation engineering practices, including mission assurance, architecture evaluation, and technical risk assessment. • Experience with system security engineering for space system threats, including contested and degraded space environments. • Experience with systems engineering for space system use of autonomy and AI with DoW Responsible AI • Background in mission-level modeling, architecture trades, or enterprise integration. • Experience working in an FFRDC or trusted advisory environment. • Experience in briefing senior Gov

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