Director of Benefits

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. Are you ready to lead a transformation in how we attract, support, and retain the brightest minds in aerospace? The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Director of Benefits to elevate our Benefits design, administration, and communications strategy—ensuring every employee understands and values the exceptional total rewards package we offer. We already provide a full suite of market-competitive benefits, including a top-tier 401(k) Plan recognized by the Wall Street Journal. Now we need a forward‑thinking leader to ask the next question: How do we modernize our employee value proposition to compete for—and win—top talent in a rapidly evolving talent market? If you're energized by strategy, driven by data, and passionate about building benefits programs that genuinely make a difference in people's lives, we want to hear your approach.

The Director of Benefits oversees the full benefits portfolio for The Aerospace Corporation, including health & welfare, disability & leave management, retirement programs (pension and 401(k)), vendor relationships, compliance, budget, and analytics. This role partners closely with Finance and the Office of General Counsel and leads a team responsible for delivering best‑in‑class benefits strategy and operations. This is a high‑visibility, high‑impact leadership position for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategic vision and operational excellence. The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time on‑site at our campus facility in El Segundo CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

Health & Welfare Benefits

• Oversee medical, dental, and vision plans
• Manage health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Direct employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives

Disability & Leave Management

• Administer short‑term and long‑term disability programs
• Ensure FMLA, state, and local leave compliance
• Coordinate workers' compensation and return‑to‑work programs

Retirement Programs

• Lead defined benefit pension plan and 401(k)/defined contribution plan administration
• Provide fiduciary oversight and governance
• Manage retiree benefits programs

Benefits Strategy & Operations

• Drive strategic planning and execution across the benefits portfolio
• Lead vendor management, negotiations, and performance oversight
• Ensure regulatory compliance and risk mitigation
• Own budget management, analytics, and reporting

Team Leadership

• Develop and mentor the Benefits team
• Build organizational capability and lead change management initiatives
• Foster cross‑functional collaboration across HR, Finance, and Legal

Metrics & Accountability

• Financial: Benefits cost per employee trend, healthcare cost trend vs. national benchmark, vendor cost savings, pension funded status progress.
• Operational: Regulatory compliance, vendor performance scores, employee inquiry resolution time, enrollment completion rates
• Strategic: Employee benefits satisfaction scores, benefits competitiveness index, strategic initiative completion, total rewards communication effectiveness

What You Need to be Successful – Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive benefits experience
• 5+ years in a leadership role
• Demonstrated experience with strategic benefits management
• Experience with pension plan administration and fiduciary oversight
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and not require employer sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future.

How You Can Stand Out

• Advanced degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field
• Professional certification: CEBS, CBP, or CCP
• Experience in a large organization (5,000+ employees)
• Experience with union negotiations

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

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

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 View phone number on click.appcast.io or by email at View email address on click.appcast.io . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

Right Place

The Aerospace Corporation has over 26 locations nationwide, which allows us to build a workforce that will nurture the best ideas, and generate the most novel innovations and solutions to our nation’s toughest space enterprise challenges.

Right Path

Aerospace covers all stages of the space lifecycle, from concept to operations. We believe our people are our most valuable resource and that’s why we propel our employees forward in their careers through ongoing education, training, and professional development.

Right Purpose

We can all serve a mission much greater than ourselves, and at Aerospace that is exactly what we do. By hiring the industry’s most preeminent scientists and engineers, Aerospace advances emerging technologies that protect some of the most critical missions on Earth and above it.

Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to obtain a Security Clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.

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) $153,500.00 - $230,300.00 Pay Basis: Annual