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 Sea, Land, Air Analysis Group’s mission is to deliver objective analyses, plans and strategies to US Navy, US Marine Corps, USAF, other DoD, and Australian Defence Force clients to support technology development, acquisition, delivery and sustainment decisions. The group provides the core of SPA thought leadership on Undersea Strategy, Software Development and Cost Estimating, with additional benchmark capabilities in AI/ML & Decision Analytics, Modeling and Simulation, and Future Force Assessments.

SPA has a need for a Chief Engineer, who will serve as the overall technical authority for the program and steward the engineering integrity of the Mission Planning Enterprise solution. This leader will ensure that architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization efforts are technically sound and aligned with government requirements and enterprise strategy. The Chief Engineer will own the definition and tracking of technical performance, risk, and trades so that the program delivers coherent, testable, and supportable capabilities#FC #Dice

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall technical direction and engineering integrity of the program. They ensure that all architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization efforts align with government requirements and the mission planning enterprise strategy. The Chief Engineer leads requirements analysis, technical trade studies, technical performance measures (TPMs), and technical risk management, and chairs or co‑chairs relevant technical working groups. They work closely with the Chief Architect, Solutions Architect, ISSM, and Platform Operations leadership to guarantee that all technical work converges into a coherent, testable, and supportable solution that meets Mission Planning Enterprise needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field
• 10+ years of systems engineering leadership on large, software‑intensive DoD programs with end‑to‑end responsibility for the technical baseline
• Demonstrated experience with system‑of‑systems integration in mission planning or similar environments, including frameworks, common components, and platform‑unique components
• Hands‑on experience with verification, validation, integration, and evaluation of complex software products, including definition and execution of evaluation plans and performance analysis
• Proven leadership of cross‑functional engineering teams (architecture, software, test, cybersecurity, and sustainment) and technical working groups.
• Active Secret clearance and the ability to maintain it throughout employment

Desired Qualifications

• Experience modernizing legacy mission planning or avionics systems into open‑architecture, Windows‑based or cloud‑hosted environments
• Familiarity with requirements‑management tools (e.g., DOORS) and strong background in requirements traceability, KPPs, and RTMs
• Demonstrated experience defining and managing TPMs as leading indicators of technical risk and integrating them into decision forums
• Background in process maturity (e.g., CMMI Level 3+), and in standing up or operating a “software factory” style development and integration environment
• Master’s degree in relevant engineering discipline and prior service as a chief engineer or equivalent on a major Air Force or joint program

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall technical direction and engineering integrity of the program. They ensure that all architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization efforts align with government requirements and the mission planning enterprise strategy. The Chief Engineer leads requirements analysis, technical trade studies, technical performance measures (TPMs), and technical risk management, and chairs or co‑chairs relevant technical working groups. They work closely with the Chief Architect, Solutions Architect, ISSM, and Platform Operations leadership to guarantee that all technical work converges into a coherent, testable, and supportable solution that meets Mission Planning Enterprise needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field
• 10+ years of systems engineering leadership on large, software‑intensive DoD programs with end‑to‑end responsibility for the technical baseline
• Demonstrated experience with system‑of‑systems integration in mission planning or similar environments, including frameworks, common components, and platform‑unique components
• Hands‑on experience with verification, validation, integration, and evaluation of complex software products, including definition and execution of evaluation plans and performance analysis
• Proven leadership of cross‑functional engineering teams (architecture, software, test, cybersecurity, and sustainment) and technical working groups.
• Active Secret clearance and the ability to maintain it throughout employment

Desired Qualifications

• Experience modernizing legacy mission planning or avionics systems into open‑architecture, Windows‑based or cloud‑hosted environments
• Familiarity with requirements‑management tools (e.g., DOORS) and strong background in requirements traceability, KPPs, and RTMs
• Demonstrated experience defining and managing TPMs as leading indicators of technical risk and integrating them into decision forums
• Background in process maturity (e.g., CMMI Level 3+), and in standing up or operating a “software factory” style development and integration environment
• Master’s degree in relevant engineering discipline and prior service as a chief engineer or equivalent on a major Air Force or joint program