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.
Job Summary
The Principal Director, Enterprise Applications is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving the enterprise-wide strategy for IT applications, with a strong focus on ERP systems and digital transformation. This role ensures the alignment of technology and operational strategies to enhance business processes, streamline workflows, and optimize the use of data, AI and technology. Acting as a key partner to executive leadership and IT teams, the Principal Director leads the design, development, and management of secure, scalable, and innovative enterprise applications that support financial operations and strategic objectives. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing modernization, enabling cross-functional delivery, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of mission-critical systems. This role will report to the Deputy CIO/General Manager of Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) Division under the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.
What You'll Be Doing
Strategic Vision & Leadership
Define and lead the execution of an enterprise-wide IT applications strategy, with a strong emphasis on ERP, data governance, and analytics
Develop multi-year roadmaps for application modernization and digital transformation, ensuring alignment with business objectives
Partner with executive leadership to influence digital strategies and drive enterprise innovation
Application Portfolio Management
Oversee the architecture, lifecycle management, and performance of ERP, HRIS, and other internally developed applications
Identify opportunities to leverage emerging technologies (e.g., AI, RPA) to optimize workflows and improve scalability
Establish governance frameworks to prioritize initiatives based on ROI and business impact
Solution Design & Delivery
Collaborate with key stakeholders to design and implement business processes supported by technology solutions that optimize efficiencies within an integrated ERP environment
Design, govern, and maintain a high-level enterprise reporting framework that delivers consistent, accurate data across an entire organization
Integrate advanced features like robotic process automation and machine learning into existing reporting workflows
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Enterprise Architecture, the Chief Data Office, and other teams to embed data governance, analytics, and security into solutions
Drive user adoption through stakeholder engagement, training, and change management initiatives
Operational Excellence
Ensure application reliability, scalability, and performance, meeting or exceeding SLAs
Establish proactive monitoring, incident management, and problem-resolution processes
Leadership & Team Development
Manage and mentor a team of IT professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Develop career paths and skill development programs to grow team competencies
Governance & Compliance
Ensure compliance with security standards, including NIST, CMMC, and corporate policies, across both classified and unclassified environments
Participate in governance forums to align application strategies with enterprise architecture and risk management frameworks
Change Management & Innovation
Lead transformation initiatives, driving process improvements and automation to enhance efficiency
Champion innovation by evaluating and adopting emerging technologies to drive competitive advantage
What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:
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
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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 peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.