Principal Director, Core Computing Services

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 Principal Director, Core Computing Services provides senior leadership and strategic direction for the design, implementation, and operation of the corporation’s unclassified and classified IT infrastructure services. This role oversees enterprise core computing capabilities, including cloud computing, high-performance computing (HPC), storage, servers, and networking, ensuring they are secure, reliable, and aligned with mission needs.

The Principal Director has 3–5 direct reports and leads an organization of approximately 50 staff members across multiple locations, is a member of the IT organization’s senior leadership team and reports to the Deputy CIO. The successful candidate will effectively lead a Plan–Build–Run organization, be mission‑centric, and deliver high‑quality services that enhance the end‑user experience.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA or Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for planning, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of corporate core computing infrastructure and services across both classified and unclassified environments, including data centers, networks, servers, virtualization, high-performance technical computing, cloud computing, and enterprise storage.
• Lead a mature Plan–Build–Run operating model for infrastructure services, ensuring clear ownership for strategy and planning, solution design and implementation, and reliable day‑to‑day operations.
• Drive a mission‑centric culture that prioritizes reliability, security, and user experience; ensure that infrastructure services measurably enhance productivity and mission outcomes for internal customers.
• Develop and maintain multi‑year roadmaps for cloud, HPC, storage, server, and network services; ensure architectures are scalable, resilient, and aligned with enterprise security and compliance requirements.
• Effectively prepare for and enable the adoption of new technologies and processes, including evaluating emerging infrastructure solutions and leading modernization initiatives.
• Work closely with the business office to oversee a $10 - $17M capital budget; manage operating budgets, cost optimization initiatives, and investment tradeoffs.
• Collaborate with senior engineering and program office staff to understand mission and program requirements and translate them into infrastructure solutions that support advanced workloads and secure collaboration.
• Empower and enable staff to consistently achieve and exceed expectations through continuous improvement of IT infrastructure services, process automation, and modern tools.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level agreements (SLAs) for infrastructure services; drive continuous improvement in availability, performance, security, and user satisfaction.
• Foster a culture of exceptional customer service, accountability, and collaboration across all teams delivering infrastructure services.

What You Need to be Successful – Principal Director, Core Computing Services

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience with IT systems and processes, with at least 5 years of leadership experience with responsibility for both personnel and budgets.
• Demonstrated portfolio of experience developing, implementing, and operating IT infrastructure and services to support and evolve organizational strategy.
• Strong working knowledge of cloud computing, high-performance computing, storage, server, and networking technologies and their integration into secure enterprise environments.
• Proven ability to effectively lead a Plan–Build–Run organization, including strategic planning, solution delivery, and operational excellence.
• Ability to translate organizational goals and objectives into actionable implementation plans and measurable outcomes.
• Knowledge of IT operations and IT service delivery frameworks (e.g., ITIL), cybersecurity principles, Agile methodologies, and DevOps practices.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain roadmaps and budgets, establish priorities, and execute projects of varying complexity on time and on budget.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with peers, customers, partners, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to make technical, organizational, and people decisions in a timely, constructive, and empathetic manner.
• Strong collaboration and communication (oral/written) skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SSBI clearance. This clearance is issued by the U.S. government, and U.S. citizenship is required.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you had one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with IT operations in constrained, classified, or high‑security environments.
• Experience architecting and operating hybrid cloud environments that integrate on‑premises data centers, HPC, and commercial cloud services.
• Experience running FFRDC or DoD IT environments, or other complex, mission‑driven enterprises.
• Information security certification(s) (e.g., CISSP, CISM, GIAC) or relevant cloud/infrastructure certifications (e.g., AWS, Azure, VMware, Cisco).
• Active security clearance issued by the U.S. Government.
• Demonstrated success improving user experience and service quality for large infrastructure portfolios through metrics‑driven management and continuous improvement.

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)

$208,000.00 - $312,000.00

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:

• 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.

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.