Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.  

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have a near-term need for a Program Lead SETA to provide onsite support out of Arlington, VA.

The candidate will apply a strong technical background and a proactive attitude in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and will be motivated to learn or already understand DARPA processes, procedures, and culture. Will actively track program budget, schedule, and technical performance with strong communication and presentation skills. The candidate will coordinate and participate in activities in project management, technical and programmatic risk analysis, and program-funded test coordination. The candidate will also be responsible for coordinating meetings, assessing performer technical progress, projecting performer outcomes, and ensuring that project management best practices are followed by performers, independent verification and validation (IV&V) entities funded by DARPA, and within DARPA itself.

Required:

• 5+ years of program management experience
• Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar areas needed to broadly support program goals
• Self-starter who is willing to both take the lead and provide support in a team role in a complex, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary work environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong organization skills
• Able to work fully onsite in Arlington, VA
• Active TS clearance

Desired:

• Experience with space technology development work, such as designing, building, testing, launching, and operating space systems
• Education or experience in one or more of the following: astrodynamics, solar sail technology, space propulsion development, space launch coordination and planning, space operations, hardware testing, space based communications, space based Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), control systems, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), space to space imaging technology, or space system development
• Experience working with or for relevant program transition partners including organizations within USSF, NASA, and USAF
• Prior experience working programs at DARPA as a technical and program management support contractor
• Knowledge of DARPA processes and procedures
• Excellent communication skills - both written (to include PowerPoint) and oral

The candidate will apply a strong technical background and a proactive attitude in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and will be motivated to learn or already understand DARPA processes, procedures, and culture. Will actively track program budget, schedule, and technical performance with strong communication and presentation skills. The candidate will coordinate and participate in activities in project management, technical and programmatic risk analysis, and program-funded test coordination. The candidate will also be responsible for coordinating meetings, assessing performer technical progress, projecting performer outcomes, and ensuring that project management best practices are followed by performers, independent verification and validation (IV&V) entities funded by DARPA, and within DARPA itself.

Required:

• 5+ years of program management experience
• Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar areas needed to broadly support program goals
• Self-starter who is willing to both take the lead and provide support in a team role in a complex, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary work environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong organization skills
• Able to work fully onsite in Arlington, VA
• Active TS clearance

Desired:

• Experience with space technology development work, such as designing, building, testing, launching, and operating space systems
• Education or experience in one or more of the following: astrodynamics, solar sail technology, space propulsion development, space launch coordination and planning, space operations, hardware testing, space based communications, space based Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), control systems, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), space to space imaging technology, or space system development
• Experience working with or for relevant program transition partners including organizations within USSF, NASA, and USAF
• Prior experience working programs at DARPA as a technical and program management support contractor
• Knowledge of DARPA processes and procedures
• Excellent communication skills - both written (to include PowerPoint) and oral