Data Architectures Section Manager

Hiring Locations:
California

2310 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
200 S. Los Robles Ave. Suite 150, Pasadena, CA 91101

Vandenberg Space Force Base
806 13th St. Bldg. 7015, Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437

Utah
Hill Air Force Base
6002 Wardleigh Rd Bldg. 1578, Ste. 200, Hill AFB, UT 84056

Colorado
7250 Getting Heights Colorado Springs, CO 80916
18300 E. Crested Butte Avenue (STOP 49), Buckley SFB, CO 80011
Peterson SPACE Force Base
150 Vandenberg St., Suite 1105, Peterson SFB, CO 80914

New Mexico
2155 Louisiana Blvd. #5000, Albuquerque, NM 87110
2301 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Ste 1100, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Kirtland Air Force Base
3548 Aberdeen Ave SE Bldg 413/Rm 118, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117

Texas
2525 Bay Area Boulevard, Ste. 600 Houston, TX 77058
2101 NASA Road One Johnson Space Center M/C NQ112 Houston, TX 77058

Nebraska
Offutt Air Force Base
101 Nelson Dr. Offutt AFB, NE 68113

Alabama
5030 Bradford Drive, Building 1 Suite 220, Huntsville, Alabama 35805

Ohio
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
4180 Watson Way Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

Florida
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
15385 Samuel C Phillips Parkway Building 44410, Room 1060, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Maryland
7850 Walker Drive, Suite 300 Patriot Business Park, Greenbelt, MD 20770
1335 East-West Highway SSMC1 6200 Silver Spring, MD 20910
4231 Suitland Road #1225 Suitland, Maryland 20746

Virginia
14745 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
4851 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA

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 Information Systems and Cyber Division (ISCD) is a unique engineering division partnering across the full space enterprise to advance next-generation digital solutions and software-enabled mission capabilities. With customers spanning the DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), civil and commercial space, ISCD blends expertise in software architecture, AI/ML systems, data platforms and architecture, advanced cloud and edge infrastructure, cybersecurity, and full-stack engineering through mission-focused, collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams. These teams leverage hands-on prototyping and applied R&D to support customer concepts, digital architectures, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into real-world mission environments.

The Data Platforms and Architectures Department (DPAD) within the ISCD organization is looking for an entry level manager that is highly technical and mission-driven to lead a team responsible for designing, building, and operating enterprise-scale Distributed Data Architectures. This role will drive the development of resilient, secure, and scalable data platforms that enable advanced analytics, AI/ML, real-time decision support, and cross-domain data integration across complex operational environments.

The Manager will combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership to guide architects and engineers delivering data fabrics, streaming pipelines, federated data systems, and cloud-native data services supporting mission-critical programs.

This position plays a critical role in enabling data-driven operations, AI adoption, and digital transformation across the enterprise. The Manager will directly influence the organization’s ability to integrate data across domains, accelerate innovation, and deliver mission advantage.

This is a full-time position, 100% onsite based in Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing – Section Manager

Lead the architecture and implementation of distributed data platforms, data fabrics, and data mesh capabilities
Oversee development of scalable data pipelines for batch, streaming, and real-time analytics
Drive adoption of modern data technologies, patterns, and governance frameworks
Enable secure cross-domain data sharing and integration
Guide architectural data decisions supporting AI/ML, digital engineering, and operational analytics
Manage and grow a team of data architects, engineers, and platform specialists (~6–10 staff)
Set technical direction, priorities, and performance expectations
Mentor staff to build deep expertise in distributed systems and modern data platforms
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and engineering excellence
Support workforce development and strategic hiring
Partner with program leadership, customers, and enterprise stakeholders
Translate mission needs into technical roadmaps and deliverables
Support proposal development, technical reviews, and executive briefings
Coordinate across software, AI/ML, cyber, cloud, and domain engineering teams
Ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture standards and compliance requirements
What You Need to be Successful

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical /STEM field
8+ years of experience in data engineering, distributed systems, or platform architecture
2+ years of technical leadership or people management experience
Demonstrated experience designing data systems and architectures
Experience with real-time data processing and event-driven systems
Demonstrated communication skills with both technical and executive audiences
Candidates should have familiarity with many of the following:
Data mesh or data fabric architectures
Data Streaming (Apache Kafka, Pulsar, Kinesis, Spark, Flink, Beam, etc.)
Storage & Databases (Distributed object storage (S3-compatible), NoSQL databases (Cassandra, DynamoDB, MongoDB)
Governance & Observability, Data cataloging and lineage tools
Security and data access control frameworks
Ability to lead in a matrixed organization supporting multiple programs balancing competing priorities and stakeholders needs.
This position requires 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

Experience in defense, aerospace, intelligence, or mission-critical systems
Edge and disconnected data operations architectures
Knowledge of AI/ML data pipelines and model operations
Background in high-performance computing or edge computing environments
Active security clearance (if applicable)
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)

$147,600.00 – $221,400.00
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:

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 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.