AEGIS Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Instructor / Lab Mentor

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.; Dahlgren (VA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Comprehensive health packages

Paid education & certifications

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is seeking a Training Specialist Senior to lead advanced tactical training for Navy personnel, focusing on Tactical Action Officer and warfare watchstations. The role emphasizes real-time guidance, scenario-based instruction, and performance evaluation.

The position requires extensive naval warfare knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to manage high-tempo training environments in a lab and simulator setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with technical training and military experience.
• Seven years of experience with the required system or process in training environments.
• Experience as TAO, AWCC, or Combat System Coordinator on an Aegis warship preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct advanced tactical training for Navy personnel.
• Conduct simulator and laboratory training using realistic tactical scenarios.
• Mentor and coach students with real-time guidance and post-exercise feedback.
• Evaluate student performance against established standards and provide counseling.

Skills

Combat Systems

Curriculum Modification

Missile Defense

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related technical discipline

Job description

Type of Requisition: Pipeline Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret Public Trust/Other Required: None Job Family: Program Instruction Support Job Qualifications: Skills: Combat Systems, Curriculum Modification, Missile Defense Certifications: None Experience: 7 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required: Yes Job Description: Training Specialist Senior - AEGIS Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Instructor/Lab Mentor is responsible for training, coaching, and evaluating Navy personnel in tactical decision-making, combat-system employment, watchstanding, and operational procedures within simulated and laboratory-based environments. The instructor and mentor prepares personnel to effectively manage complex tactical situations, interpret sensor and combat-system information, coordinate shipboard warfare functions, and make timely decisions in support of mission objectives. The position requires extensive operational experience, strong knowledge of naval warfare and combat-system employment, exceptional communication and leadership skills, and the ability to evaluate decision‑making and watchstanding performance in high‑tempo, scenario‑driven training environments.

HOW A TRAINING SPECIALIST SENIOR WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

Plan, coordinate, and conduct advanced tactical training for Navy personnel serving in or preparing for Tactical Action Officer and other warfare watchstations. Conduct simulator and laboratory‑based training using realistic tactical scenarios designed to evaluate decision‑making, situational awareness, watchstanding, communications, and combat‑system employment. Mentor and coach students through tactical exercises, providing real‑time guidance and post‑exercise feedback to improve performance. Evaluate student performance against established tactical, operational, watchstanding, and qualification standards. Train personnel in the interpretation and integration of information from sensors, combat systems, intelligence sources, communications systems, and tactical networks. Develop and execute scenarios involving complex, rapidly changing tactical environments requiring prioritization, coordination, and timely decision‑making. Evaluate students' ability to recognize developing threats, assess tactical situations, establish priorities, and coordinate appropriate responses. Provide instruction on command‑and‑control principles, tactical decision‑making, rules and procedures, communications, and warfare‑system coordination. Assess watch team performance and identify deficiencies in communication, coordination, situational awareness, decision‑making, and tactical execution. Conduct structured debriefs following training events, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and specific opportunities for improvement. Coordinate with instructors, training staff, watchstanders, and command leadership to identify individual and team training requirements. Incorporate operational experience, lessons learned, and fleet best practices into training scenarios and instructional material. Maintain proficiency in applicable naval warfare doctrine, tactical procedures, combat‑system capabilities, and watchstanding requirements. Mentor junior Sailors and developing watchstanders in leadership, professional development, tactical proficiency, and Navy standards. Support qualification programs by preparing personnel for advanced watchstation qualifications and operational responsibilities. Ensure training environments and exercises are conducted safely and in accordance with applicable Navy policies, procedures, and information‑security requirements. Support command and fleet readiness by developing tactically proficient watch teams capable of operating effectively in complex and high‑pressure environments.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED:

Bachelor's Degree in a related technical discipline, or the equivalent combination of education, technical certifications, training, or work/military experience. Seven (7) years of experience with the required system or process as either a maintenance technician manager or operator manager with responsibility for teaching the applicable system or function task to others in a master level training environment. Experience as a qualified TAO, Anti‑Air Warfare Coordinator, Ballistic Missile Defense Officer, or Combat System Coordinator and requires relevant experience, as Warfare Commander/Coordinator for Air, Surface, Subsurface, Strike, C4I, or Ballistic Missile Defense on an Aegis warship is required. Of the seven (7) years, one (1) year of experience as an instructor in a Navy Training Environment, to include curriculum maintenance, writing learning objectives, preparing test items, evaluating instructional materials and the results of instruction and counseling students on academic learning problems including one (1) year relevant experience interfacing with training systems/simulations for effective and correct presentation of learning objectives. Experience as a qualified AWCC or a Master/Afloat Training Specialist in support of SCSTC/TACTRAGRU/ATG is a significant plus. Surface Warfare Tactics Instructor AQD is highly preferred.

Location

on customer site, Secret clearance. GDIT IS YOUR PLACE: 401K with company match Comprehensive health and wellness packages Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications Cutting‑edge technology you can learn from Rest and recharge with paid vacation and holidays #DahlgrenAegis

Salary

The likely salary range for this position is $72,877 - $98,599.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Travel Required: Less than 10% Telecommuting Options: Onsite Work Location: USA VA Dahlgren Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT:

Our benefits package for all US‑based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post‑tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long‑term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Identity Verification Process

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About Our Work

We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission‑ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development. For more information about GDIT's Privacy Policy, Privacy Policy | GDIT

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