Senior Explosives Safety Planner (Explosive Site Plan / ESSP / Quantity-Distance SME)

Location: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California Clearance: SECRET required for performance Status: Key-person contract position contingent on contract award and funding Anticipated Start: 31 May 2026 Company: Strategic Technology Institute, Inc. About the Role Strategic Technology Institute, Inc. is seeking a Senior Explosives Safety Planner to support the U.S. Space Force safety mission at Vandenberg Space Force Base. This role is designed for a senior practitioner who can independently manage the full lifecycle of Explosive Site Plans (ESPs) / Explosives Safety Site Plans (ESSPs)—from data gathering and quantity-distance analysis through package development, routing, adjudication of review comments, and final approval support. You will operate in one of the Department of the Air Force’s most demanding host-tenant environments, supporting a high-tempo launch ecosystem that includes government missions and commercial space operators. Success in this position requires more than software proficiency; it requires the judgment to interpret explosives safety standards, communicate risk clearly, develop defensible recommendations, and produce regulator‑ready packages with minimal government rework. What You Will Do Serve as the lead planner and primary action officer for new, revised, and lifecycle‑managed ESP/ESSP packages supporting explosives storage, handling, movement, operations, change‑of‑use actions, and facility modifications. Perform and validate Quantity‑Distance (QD), Net Explosive Weight (NEW), and Net Explosive Weight for Quantity‑Distance (NEWQD) analyses using the DoD Explosives Safety Siting (ESS) software suite and ensure all native files are directly usable in the government’s ESS environment without rework or data conversion. Develop technically complete submittals that identify potential explosion sites (PESs), exposed sites (ESs), explosives clear zones, evaluation zones, facility identifiers, facility types, primary operations, applicable drawings, barricade effects, hazard divisions, occupants, required distances, actual distances, and command/tenant ownership. Coordinate across safety, civil engineering, fire, health, security, legal, environmental, contracting, and tenant organizations to develop high‑quality packages and resolve siting issues efficiently. Manage package routing through installation, command, Air Force Safety Center / Weapons Safety channels, and Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) review; track status, respond to comments, and update the site‑planning database as packages evolve. Develop risk assessments and deviation documentation when standard criteria cannot be met, including waivers, exemptions, compensatory measures, residual‑risk narratives, collateral‑damage analysis, and mission‑impact tradeoff recommendations. Prepare preliminary and final site‑plan packages, monthly status reports, and final turnover packages; maintain document quality, configuration control, and traceability of assumptions and calculations. When directed, perform or support advanced blast‑effects / protective‑construction analysis and prepare reports that document modeling inputs, assumptions, results, and recommended design or operational controls. Required Qualifications At least 10 years of experience in DoD explosives safety. Verifiable, hands‑on experience serving as the lead Explosives Safety Manager or the primary Explosives Safety Site Planner at a U.S. Space Force or U.S. Air Force installation for at least 12 months within the last 36 months. Expert‑level proficiency with the DoD ESS software suite and the ability to build, review, troubleshoot, and defend QD / siting outputs. Deep working knowledge of current DESR 6055.09/DAFMAN 91‑201 explosives safety requirements, including ESP/ESSP development, PES/ES evaluation, clear zones, host‑tenant coordination, deviations, compensatory measures, and approval routing. Demonstrated ability to produce regulator‑ready deliverables in MS Office, PDF, and native ESS formats with strong technical writing, quality control, and stakeholder‑briefing skills. Ability to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), proprietary tenant data, and other sensitive government information on government‑controlled systems. Ability to satisfy installation access requirements and possess and maintain a SECRET security clearance for contract performance. Highly Desired Experience Previous support to launch bases, ranges, or commercial‑space environments with multiple tenant organizations. Experience with DAF host‑to‑tenant or inter‑service host‑to‑tenant ESP coordination and with non‑DoD explosives activities on DAF installations. Familiarity with ECM / HAS siting, facility‑type coding, definitive drawing references, and protective‑construction review requirements. Experience with risk‑based assessment tools such as RBESS or ASAP‑X, or equivalent government‑accepted explosion‑assessment methods. Blast modeling, structural response, or protective‑construction analysis experience suitable for preliminary or final site plans requiring higher‑order technical support. Performance Expectations Submitted ESP/ESSP packages, risk assessments, and calculation reports are technically accurate, professionally formatted, and compliant with governing requirements. Draft and final deliverables are submitted on or before agreed suspense dates, with monthly reporting delivered on time.The selected individual maintains high continuity and availability as the approved key person supporting this effort. All analytical files are directly importable into the government’s ESS suite, and all sensitive information is handled without security incidents or data spillage. Work Environment and Security Primary place of performance is Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Limited telework may be available when pre‑approved and operationally appropriate. Travel may be required for quarterly on‑site meetings or as otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. All government data must remain on government‑controlled systems. Application Guidance To improve consideration, resumes should clearly show: Installations supported and dates (month/year) of explosives safety site planning experience. Specific role performed (lead Explosives Safety Manager, primary site planner, reviewer, etc.). Examples of ESP/ESSP development, DDESB or AFSEC routing, and deviation / compensatory‑measure work. ESS software proficiency and any use of RBESS, ASAP‑X, or other approved assessment methods. Current clearance status and ability to access government systems / installations. Pay: $76,998.22 - $92,729.04 per year Benefits 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance Referral program Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance Application Question(s) Experience with DAF host‑to‑tenant or inter‑service host‑to‑tenant ESP Education Bachelor's (Preferred) Experience DoD explosives safety at a U.S. Space Force U.S. Air Force : 10 years (Required) Security clearance Secret (Preferred) Work Location In person #J-18808-Ljbffr The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association, Inc