Mission Protection Analyst - Senior

Responsibilities

Shape the Future of Space Security - Join a mission-critical team at the forefront of national security space operations. As a Mission Protection Analyst, you will play a vital role in protecting some of the nation's most sensitive space-based capabilities. Working within a dynamic space warfighting environment, you will safeguard mission-critical data, assess threats to on-orbit assets, and enable secure information sharing across government, intelligence community, and mission partner organizations.

This position combines operational analysis, mission assurance, orbital threat assessment, and advanced indications and warning (I&W) capabilities to ensure the continued safety, resilience, and effectiveness of space missions. You will work alongside engineers, operators, and mission planners to improve system integration, streamline operational workflows, and strengthen mission protection strategies across the enterprise.

If you're passionate about space operations, threat analysis, and protecting high-value national security assets, this is an opportunity to make a direct impact on mission success.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute mission protection strategies supporting daily operations, contingency planning, and long-term mission assurance objectives.
• Protect sensitive and classified information while enabling secure and timely data sharing with internal stakeholders and external mission partners.
• Monitor and analyze indications and warning (I&W) data to identify emerging threats and assess risks to mission assets.
• Perform orbital analysis and ephemeris screening to evaluate potential space and terrestrial hazards, ensuring the safety and survivability of mission systems.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments using multiple satellite state-vector and tracking data sources to identify threats and operational risks.
• Support conjunction assessment (CA) and flight safety activities to maintain mission readiness and safety of flight.
• Develop and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), courses of action (COAs), operational checklists, and decision thresholds.
• Integrate and operationalize next-generation I&W tools, analytics, and mission protection capabilities in partnership with engineering and development teams.
• Maintain and enhance the accuracy of terrestrial and space object catalogs used to support mission planning and threat detection.
• Prioritize collection requirements and manage tasking activities across available surveillance and mission resources.
• Collaborate with government leadership, mission partners, and technical teams to support planning efforts, operational coordination, and executive-level briefings.
• Support training initiatives, exercises, documentation development, and continuity-of-operations activities.
• Contribute to process improvements that enhance operational effectiveness, automation, and mission responsiveness.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 16 years w/o a degree or 14 years with AS/AA or 12 years with BS/BA or 10 years with MS/MA or 7 years with Ph.D.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with one or more of the following systems:
  • STK
  • DSS
  • SPADOC
  • ATLAS
  • ASW
• Active TS/SCI clearance with adjudicated polygraph.

Preferred Qualifications

• 4+ years of mission protection experience in one or more of the following roles:
  • Orbital Analyst
  • Flight Safety Analyst (Conjunction Assessment)
  • Battlespace Awareness (BSA) Analyst
  • Satellite Mission Planner
• Experience supporting National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) missions or partner Intelligence Community organizations.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics, conjunction assessment methodologies, flight safety operations, and indications and warning systems.
• Experience navigating large operational datasets and responding to Requests for Information (RFIs).
• Understanding of foreign and domestic space and ground-based threat capabilities.
• Familiarity with space domain awareness architectures, surveillance networks, and tasking of space surveillance resources.

Why This Role Matters

Every day, our nation's space assets face an evolving landscape of operational challenges and emerging threats. As a Mission Protection Analyst, you will be part of the team responsible for detecting, assessing, and mitigating those risks—helping ensure the security, resilience, and success of critical national security missions in the space domain.

Worklocation:

• Fort Belvoir

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.