Research lab · United States
The Aerospace Corporation
HQ United States
The Aerospace Corporation is an independent nonprofit organization that operates the federally funded Aerospace Systems Engineering and Integration Center for the U.S.
About The Aerospace Corporation
Space Force and Department of the Air Force. It provides objective technical expertise across national security space programs, including acquisition, systems engineering, launch, satellites, and mission assurance. DoW identifies Aerospace as a systems engineering and integration FFRDC. Here the operating institution and the FFRDC administrator share the same organization; its customer programs and government sites are not corporate facilities. The corporation’s official careers portal lists opportunities.
- Institution
- DoW FFRDC, systems engineering and integration center
- Sponsor
- Air Force (SAF/AQ)
- Operator
- The Aerospace Corporation
Federal Prime Contracts$19.31B obligated · FY2008–FY2027
- Obligated
- $19.31B
- FY2008–FY2027
- Contract actions
- 7,582
- 1,167 awards
- Peak year
- FY2025
- $1.41B
- Top buyer
- U.S. Air Force
- 92% of obligations
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Obligated | Actions | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 (to date) | $1.11B | 425 | 202 |
| FY2025 | $1.41B | 571 | 237 |
| FY2024 | $1.33B | 492 | 192 |
| FY2023 | $1.27B | 449 | 186 |
| FY2022 | $1.16B | 472 | 197 |
| FY2021 | $1.15B | 485 | 201 |
| FY2020 | $1.13B | 537 | 215 |
| FY2019 | $1.08B | 580 | 252 |
| FY2018 | $1.03B | 426 | 172 |
| FY2017 | $946M | 495 | 221 |
| FY2016 | $916M | 385 | 168 |
| FY2015 | $891M | 427 | 182 |
| FY2014 | $779M | 383 | 162 |
| FY2013 | $853M | 318 | 147 |
| FY2012 | $865M | 270 | 115 |
| FY2011 | $907M | 192 | 82 |
| FY2010 | $840M | 211 | 81 |
| FY2009 | $840M | 245 | 92 |
| FY2008 | $807M | 217 | 101 |
Top buyers
- U.S. Air Force$17.72B 92%
- NASA$1.02B 5.3%
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration$293M 1.5%
- U.S. Department of Energy$204M 1.1%
- U.S. Geological Survey$40.3M 0.2%
- Federal Bureau of Investigation$13.7M 0.1%
- Federal Aviation Administration$5.1M 0.0%
- U.S. Department of State$4.1M 0.0%
- Offices, Boards and Divisions$1.8M 0.0%
- Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation$1.7M 0.0%
- National Institute of Standards and Technology$177K 0.0%
- Defense Logistics Agency$111K 0.0%
- All other$146K 0.0%
What they sell (PSC)
- R&D- Space: Science/Applications (Operational Systems Development)$9.15B 47%
- Support- Professional: Engineering/Technical$8.77B 45%
- R&D- Defense Other: Services (Engineering Development)$617M 3.2%
- Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research and Supporting Activities; Applied Research$264M 1.4%
- R&D- Space: Aeronautics/Space Technology (Management/Support)$139M 0.7%
- Support- Professional: Other$93.8M 0.5%
- Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research and Supporting Activities; R&D Administrative Expenses$67.2M 0.3%
- Special Studies/Analysis- Aeronautical/Space$60.3M 0.3%
- R&D- Space: Science/Applications (Management/Support)$26.9M 0.1%
- Architect and Engineering- General: Other$17.1M 0.1%
- Systems Engineering Services$15.1M 0.1%
- Special Studies/Analysis- Other$12.9M 0.1%
- General Science and Technology R&D Services; General Science and Technology; Basic Research$11.5M 0.1%
- Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research and Supporting Activities; Basic Research$7.5M 0.0%
- General Science and Technology R&D Services; General Science and Technology; Applied Research$6.9M 0.0%
- All other$45.7M 0.2%
Industry (NAICS)
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)$9.57B 50%
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology)$8.71B 45%
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences$845M 4.4%
- Space Research and Technology$98.2M 0.5%
- Engineering Services$46.9M 0.2%
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services$16.9M 0.1%
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services$13.2M 0.1%
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing$2.0M 0.0%
- All Other Legal Services$1.8M 0.0%
- Research and Development in Biotechnology$1.2M 0.0%
- All other$2.0M 0.0%
Where the work is done
- California$18.66B 97%
- Maryland$427M 2.2%
- District of Columbia$120M 0.6%
- Florida$38.4M 0.2%
- Alabama$25.2M 0.1%
- South Dakota$12.1M 0.1%
- Washington$10.8M 0.1%
- Ohio$9.1M 0.0%
- Virginia$4.1M 0.0%
- Texas$2.1M 0.0%
- New Mexico$1.0M 0.0%
- North Carolina$557K 0.0%
- New Hampshire$329K 0.0%
- West Virginia$8K 0.0%
Contract pricing
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee$19.28B 100%
- Time and Materials$14.3M 0.1%
- Firm Fixed Price$14.0M 0.1%
- Labor Hours$8.3M 0.0%
- Other (Applies to Awards Where None of the Above Apply)$114K 0.0%
- Cost Plus Award Fee$105K 0.0%
- Not Reported$11K 0.0%
Competition
- Not Competed$19.25B 100%
- Full and Open Competition$14.7M 0.1%
- Not Available for Competition$3.9M 0.0%
- Not Competed Under SAP$617K 0.0%
- Competed Under SAP$511K 0.0%
- Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources$330K 0.0%
Largest awards10
- FY19 Engineering ServicesU.S. Air Force · USAspending ↗$8.57BOct 1, 2018
- IGF::CL::IGF Aerospace Ffrdc Contract From 1 Oct 2013 to 30 Sept 2018U.S. Air Force · USAspending ↗$4.29BOct 1, 2013
- Aerospace Ffrdc ContractU.S. Air Force · USAspending ↗$4.04BOct 31, 2008
- The Aerospace CorporationU.S. Air Force · USAspending ↗$821MOct 18, 2007
- Nasa-wide Specialized Engineering, Evaluation and Test Services (Nseets) to Provide On/off-site Project Independent Multidisciplinary Engineering Services, Testing, Consulting, Contractor-on-site Monitoring, and Evaluation of Project And/or Programs.NASA · USAspending ↗$195MSep 29, 2020
- Nasa-wide Specialized Engineering, Evaluation and Test Services (Nseets)NASA · USAspending ↗$141MSep 27, 2019
- System Engineering and Integration (Se&i) Support and Independent Technical and Programmatic Analysis for the Offices of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation and Defense ProgramsU.S. Department of Energy · USAspending ↗$139MDec 31, 2019
- Nasa-wide Specialized Engineering, Evaluation and Test Services (Nseets).NASA · USAspending ↗$59.6MSep 23, 2024
- System Engineering and Integration (Se&i) Support and Independent Technical and Programmatic Analysis for the Offices of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation and Defense ProgramsU.S. Department of Energy · USAspending ↗$41.8MMay 31, 2025
- Special Studies/analysis- Aeronautical/spaceNASA · USAspending ↗$36.2MJun 10, 2011
Signed obligations on federal prime contracts (award types A–D) from USAspending, FY2008 through Oct 9, 2026. Obligations are money the government committed, not company revenue, and include de-obligations. Subcontracts and grants are excluded. Matching is by registered UEI.
Capabilities1
| Technology | Role | Maturity | TRL | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space domain awareness | Researcher | — | — | — | Reported |
Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.
Supply Chain1 facility
Facilities1
| Facility | Kind | Location | Status | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Aerospace Corporation headquarters | Lab | Chantilly, United States | Operating | Confirmed |
- The Aerospace Corporation headquartersLab · Chantilly, United StatesOperatingConfirmed
Hiring Observations10 observed listings
Official board checked Oct 8, 2026. Complete public employer board enumerated; includes roles across business units and locations, not only defense. This page shows a bounded engineering-oriented sample plus previously tracked records. Posting count is not vacancy or headcount.
2026 Aerodynamic Environments Engineer ↗
El Segundo, CA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
2026 Particle Induced Radiation Effects Scientist ↗
El Segundo, CA · Other
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
El Segundo, CA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
2026 Radiation Effects Scientist ↗
El Segundo, CA · Other
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
2026 Space Photovoltaics Engineer/Scientist ↗
El Segundo, CA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
2 Locations · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
Analog Circuit Electrical Engineer ↗
El Segundo, CA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
Associate Principal Director, Software Mission Solutions Subdivision (SMSS) ↗
Chantilly, VA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
Chantilly, VA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
Combat Power Systems Engineering Lead ↗
El Segundo, CA · Engineering
Open when checked · aerospace-corporation-ffrdc Workday public career board (observed CXS endpoint)
Checked Oct 8, 2026
A sample of observed listings, not a total vacancy count. Availability may have changed since collection. Categories are inferred from job titles.
Sources4
Profile1
- 1
U.S. Department of War · Supports Organization, Organization · designation and sponsor
“Aerospace Corporation”
Technologies1
- 2
aerospace-corporation-ffrdc · Supports Organization, Organization · organization description, Organization technology · research capability
“We Make Space Work”
Supply chain1
- 3
The Aerospace Corporation · Supports Facility · facility location
“CHANTILLY”
Other1
- 4
Supports Job posting
“Launch Base Infrastructure Systems Engineer”
Government identifiers1
Identifiers are matched to this legal entity; related companies may hold different registrations.
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.
