Senior Military GPS Security Approval & Certification SME

Start Date: Immediate JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities. The combined organization operates as a multi-entity aerospace and defense technology and tech-enabled services and manufacturing enterprise positioned for scalable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

OVERVIEW Full-time/Permanent Employee Location: El Segundo, CA Aether Aerospace is seeking a highly experienced Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Military GPS / Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems to support Space Systems Command (SSC). In this role, you will act as the critical bridge between technical engineering teams and military certification bodies. You will lead the security approval, cryptographic verification, and system-level certification efforts for next-generation GPS user equipment, including Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) and M-Code capabilities. The ideal candidate has a deep working knowledge of military GPS security architectures, NSA cryptographic modernization requirements, and the official processes required to achieve a formal Authority to Operate (ATO) and Space Systems Command’s Military Communications & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (MCPNT) security approvals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Certification Leadership: Lead the end-to-end security approval and certification lifecycle for military GPS receiver systems, subsystems, and integrated software.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Serve as the primary technical liaison between technical teams, Space Systems Command (SSC), the Joint Staff, the NSA, and service-specific Certification Branches (e.g., Navy, Army, Air Force).
• Compliance Verification: Interpret and apply GPS Directorate security design criteria, Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) requirements, and M-Code security architectures.
• Document Generation: Author, review, and mature critical certification artifacts, including Security Plans, Information Assurance (IA) strategies, Cryptographic Verification plans, and Risk Management Framework (RMF) packages.
• Risk Mitigation: Evaluate system vulnerabilities, support security testing, and develop mitigations to address deficiencies identified during independent verification and validation (IV&V).
• Technical Advisory: Provide expert guidance on Anti-Jam (AJ) and Anti-Spoof (AS) technologies, Key Management Infrastructure (KMI), and over-the-air rekeying capabilities.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required

Education & Years of Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline (Master’s preferred). At least 10 years of experience in defense aerospace engineering. With multiple years specifically focused on military GPS/PNT systems or cryptographic system certification.

• Domain Expertise: Proven track record navigating SSC/SMC GPS Directorate security approval paths and achieving system certification.
• Technical Knowledge: Direct familiarity with MGUE Inc 1/Inc 2, M-Code receiver architectures, and NSA commercial/government cryptographic equipment rules.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex cryptographic and security policies into clear technical execution paths for engineering teams.