Airborne Autonomy & sUAS Technical Advisor

Systems Planning & Analysis; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking an Airborne Autonomy & sUAS Technical Advisor for its Chantilly, VA office. This role requires a TS clearance, bachelor’s or master’s in engineering/robotics/computer science, and 5–10 years in unmanned systems and rapid prototyping.

You will lead program management, systems integration, and stakeholder coordination across DoW and IC, supporting flight testing and transition to operations.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for SCI/SAP/ACCM.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• 5-10 years combined experience in unmanned systems, technology prototyping, and/or aviation operations.
• SOF experience.
• 3+ years as SETA supporting sUAS programs, airborne autonomy, C2 systems, or rapid aviation prototyping initiatives.
• Experience with Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) and Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to brief senior government leadership.
• Ability to work full-time in a Chantilly, VA office within SCIF/SAPF spaces.
• Ability to travel approximately 25% to support flight testing, ranges, and mission partner locations (CONUS and OCONUS).

Responsibilities

• Program Management Support: Support an integrated team spanning DoW and IC; execute acquisition strategy; refine technical approach; develop transition strategy; coordinate cross-agency agreements.
• Assist the government Project Manager in rapid acquisition lifecycle with emphasis on agile software delivery and hardware iteration.
• Maintain compliance with A-GRA to ensure software-hardware decoupling for porting across sUAS platforms.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestone trackers, and risk frameworks for flight-test events and software sprints.
• Coordinate with Financial Resource to track budget and spending.
• Prepare project documentation (SOW/PWSs, TRDs, PEPs, and briefing material).
• Technical & Integration Support: Provide independent technical analysis, risk assessment, financial management support, and operational guidance across sUAS lifecycle.
• Define and manage integration requirements between airframe, sensors, and GCS.
• Design and execute technology flight demonstrations in GPS-denied or RF-contested environments.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination: Advance uncrewed technologies to fieldable prototypes; facilitate transition to DoW entities.
• Serve as liaison connecting government, OEMs, and agile AI/software vendors.
• Represent project office in discussions with DoW, IC, and mission partners to align TTPs with prototype capabilities.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering/Robotics/CS

Job description

Overview
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.

Overview
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 Space and Intelligence Division provides professional services to the US Space Force, Combatant Commands, Intelligence Community, and NASA. Our work includes enterprise architectural assessments, systems engineering and integration, test, planning and execution, cost estimating and analysis, acquisition support, and cybersecurity. We are trusted partners developing approaches and concepts to meet emerging high priority needs, assessing cutting-edge technologies, and supporting capabilities for our National Defense. Come join the fastest growing Division at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.
The Strategic Technology Analysis Group, part of SPA’s Space and Intelligence Division, offers sophisticated capabilities (people, process & tools) to resolve unique problems in space, cyber, and special operations in support to military services, Secretary of Defense offices (OSD) and theater warfighters. Our portfolio includes the Assistant Secretary of Air Force for Space Acquisition & Integration (SAF/SQ), Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC), Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP), National Space Defense Center (NSDC), Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC), Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), US Space Command (USSPACECOM) and US Space Force (USSF). Come be a part of a high-speed low-drag organization providing unique and tailored solutions for our National Defense!
SPA has an immediate need for an Airborne Autonomy & sUAS Technical Advisor.

Responsibilities
Seeking an experienced candidate to support a fast-paced Department of War (DoW) Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) Project. The successful candidate will provide critical technical, programmatic, and acquisition support for an Autonomous Group 3 and below small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) Program, with emphasis on rapid prototyping and transition to operational users.

• Program Management Support:
  • Provide dedicated support to an integrated team of civilians, military personnel, and contractors spanning the DoW and Intelligence Community (IC) in the execution of an Autonomous Group 3 and below sUAS ISR&T Program, including executing the acquisition strategy, refining the technical approach, implementing security classification guidance, developing the program transition strategy, and coordinating cross-agency and intergovernmental agreements in alignment with program objectives.
  • Assist the government Project Manager in all phases of the rapid acquisition lifecycle with emphasis on agile software delivery and hardware iteration.
  • Maintain continuous compliance with the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) to ensure mission autonomy software from vendors is decoupled from hardware and can be integrated, updated, and ported across different physical sUAS Platforms.
  • Develop and maintain project schedules, milestone trackers, and risk frameworks tailored to flight-test events and software-release sprints.
  • Coordinate with Assigned Financial Resource to Track budget execution and performer spending.
  • Prepare project documentation (SOW/PWSs, TRDs, PEPs and Briefing Material).
• Technical & Integration Support:
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and deliver independent technical analysis and oversight, program risk assessment, financial management support, and operational guidance across the entire sUAS and airborne autonomy development lifecycle, from initial capability definition through tactical flight testing, integration, and operationalization.
  • Provide technical oversight on Project's Functional Areas: Autonomy Framework, Human Machine Teaming, Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT) , Resilient Communication, Pay Load & Platform Integration, Object Detection & Tracking, Test and Evaluation & Demonstration.
  • Define and manage integration requirements between the airframe, sensors, and the Ground Control Station (GCS).
  • Design and execute technology flight demonstrations, including testing in GPS-denied or RF-contested operational environments.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination:
  • Support Group 3 and below UAS acquisition and rapid prototyping efforts by advancing uncrewed technologies and autonomy capabilities to a fieldable prototype level of maturity and facilitating their successful transition to operational DoW entities.
  • Serve as a technical liaison connecting government offices, traditional aerospace Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and agile AI/software vendors.
  • Represent the project office in technical discussions with DoW, IC, and Mission Partners to ensure tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) align with prototype capabilities for supported transition partners.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance at time of application with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Special Access Program (SAP), and Alternative Compensatory Control Measures (ACCM) clearances
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related discipline, combined with operationally relevant capability employment experience
• 5-10 years of combined experience in unmanned systems, technology prototyping, and/or aviation operations
• Special Operations Forces (SOF) experience
• 3+ years as SETA supporting sUAS programs, airborne autonomy, Command and Control (C2) systems, or rapid aviation prototyping initiatives
• Experience with and the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) and Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to brief senior government leadership
• Ability to work full-time in a Chantilly, VA office environment within SCIF/SAPF spaces
• Ability to travel approximately 25% to support flight testing, test ranges, and mission partner locations (CONUS and OCONUS)

Pay Range Information
At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Virginia, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $175,000.00/Yr. - USD $225,000.00/Yr.