Digital Innovation Division Software Factory Lead

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.
Digital Innovation Division (DID) is accountable for generating and executing integrated strategies,
providing governance, and managing internal investments associated with four technical pillars that form the foundation of Aerospace's digital transformation.
The Digital Innovation Division is seeking an experienced Software Factory Lead to develop and drive our DevSecOps-focused software delivery pipeline. In this role, you will oversee the full lifecycle of software development, from CI/CD automation and tooling to security and compliance integrations. You will be responsible for enabling development teams to build, test, and release high-quality software more efficiently-while maintaining rigorous security standards.
Work Model: 100% onsite or hybrid; Chantilly, Colorado Springs, El Segundo, Huntsville.
What You'll Be Doing

• Evolve a Software Factory Framework
  • Define standards, processes, and best practices for automated builds, testing, and deployments.
  • Work with cross-functional teams to implement scalable and secure pipelines aligned with organizational goals.
  • Deploy software factor on additional networks
• DevSecOps Integration
  • Embed security throughout the development lifecycle (shift-left approach), ensuring vulnerabilities are detected and addressed early.
  • Collaborate with InfoSec teams to maintain compliance with relevant regulations and frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO, FedRAMP).
• Tooling & Infrastructure Management
  • Partner with Mission IT to select, configure, and maintain tools for CI/CD and container orchestration..
  • Optimize resources to maximize uptime, scalability, and reliability of the software factory ecosystem.
• Governance & Process Improvement
  • Develop metrics and KPIs (e.g., lead time, deployment frequency, change failure rate) to measure pipeline health and productivity.
  • Integrate DevSecOps processes with corporate software governance standards.
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
  • Lead a team of DevOps engineers, build masters, and automation specialists; provide mentorship and career development.
  • Leverage Agile methodologies to manage priorities and tasking.
  • Promote DevSecOps processes and best practices across the corporation, including demonstrations, workshops, and training
• Innovation & Continuous Learning
  • Stay current with emerging tools, best practices, and industry trends to keep the software factory at the cutting edge of efficiency and security.
  • Explore integration of AI tools and processes to enhance Software Factory capabilities, such as for software analysis, testing, and CI/CD process monitoring
  • Champion a culture of continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across the organization.

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 6+ years of experience in DevOps, software engineering, or related fields, with at least 2 years in a leadership or management role.
• Proficiency with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, SonarQube, ArgoCD, Harbor, Nexus) and orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).
• Familiarity with security frameworks, compliance standards, and security scanning tools integrated into the build pipelines (e.g., NIST SP 800-171).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to bridge technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a strategic mindset.
• Strong organizational skills to effectively prioritize demands from many different sources
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a knack for fostering collaboration and working relationships across multiple constituencies, both internal and external to Aerospace
• Position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US 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:

• Advanced degree in STEM or other technical discipline
• Certifications in cloud (AWS, Azure), DevOps, or security (CISSP, CISA)
• Current DoD TS and SSBI/SCI Clearance

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)
$117,300 - $175,900
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 [email protected] . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.