CUAS Effector Analyst

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 War, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of War (DoW), 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.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group (ATAG) within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the DoW. These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)), DARPA, Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM. 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 an upcoming need for a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Effector Analyst to provide support in Alexandria, VA.

We are seeking an experienced C-UAS Effector Analyst to support Department of War programs with indepth research, analysis, and reporting on C-UAS effector production ecosystems, supply chains, and industrial capabilities. Analysis will include all types of C-UAS systems including missiles, guns, drones, electromagnetic warfare (EMW), and directed energy (DE). The analyst will provide datadriven insights to senior leaders, inform decisionmaking, and help assess risks and opportunities within the short range air defense (SHORAD) industrial base. The analyst will conduct qualitative and quantitative research on C-UAS effector production, supply chains, and industrial base dependencies, and will develop detailed written products - including memos, reports, briefings, and data summaries - for senior DoW stakeholders. The role includes identifying capability gaps, production constraints, material challenges, vendor dependencies, and opportunities to strengthen the munitions industrial base. The analyst will engage with government program offices, industry partners, and technical experts to collect and validate data, support working groups and senior leader engagements, and contribute to modeling and assessment of production chains, capacity, and timelines. Additional responsibilities include assisting with program planning, risk assessments, and strategic options analysis, with travel up to 20% to government sites, program offices, and industrial facilities.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering, physics, data analytics, operations research, or related).
• 10+ years of experience with SHORAD, EMW, or DE operations or Industrial Base.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and analytical communication skills, with demonstrated experience producing formal reports based on research findings.
• Ability to clearly convey complex technical issues to senior stakeholders across Federal agencies.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Desired:

• Prior experience supporting OSW, Joint Staff, or Service staff.
• Master's degree in a relevant technical or analytical field.
• Experience within a DoW program office (acquisition, engineering, logistics, or industrial base).
• Experience in industry producing SHORAD effector systems, components, or subcomponents.
• Experience developing visual or functional models of production chains or industrial processes.
• Familiarity with a Service's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process.
• Active Top Secret clearance.