Combat Systems Analyst – UAS Operations

Unmanned Safety Institute, Inc.; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Combat Systems Analyst with UAS operations expertise to help shape and evaluate defense capabilities. You will translate warfighter needs into system requirements and work with engineers, analysts, and operators to address real world operational challenges.

This role emphasizes UAS, aviation, and human-machine teaming, developing CONOPS, mission threads, and realistic scenarios for testing and assessment while engaging sponsors

Qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.
• Significant experience with U.S. military operations and planning.
• Experience with UAS or military aviation systems in operational environments.
• Ability to translate operational needs into requirements and concepts.
• Experience communicating with engineers, developers, analysts, and sponsors.
• Active Secret clearance with eligibility for Top Secret.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an operational SME supporting development and evaluation of UAS, aviation, and C2 capabilities.
• Analyze missions and workflows to identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Translate needs and feedback into requirements, use cases, and recommendations.
• Collaborate with engineers, developers, analysts, sponsors, and operators throughout development.
• Develop realistic operational scenarios and mission threads for testing and evaluation.
• Support CONOPS, tactics, procedures, and employment concepts for new capabilities.
• Participate in exercises, demonstrations, tests, and assessments of military systems.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Design human-machine teaming concepts integrating operators, autonomy, sensors, and mission systems.
• Capture feedback from operational personnel to represent warfighter needs.

Skills

Operational analysis

Analytical thinking

Oral communication

Written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, National Security, Military Studies, or related

Job description

Description

Are you passionate about applying real-world military operational experience to the development of future combat capabilities?

Do you enjoy working with engineers, developers, analysts, and warfighters to translate operational challenges into technical requirements and solutions?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our Human-Machine Engineering team at APL!

We are seeking a Combat Systems Analyst with UAS operational expertise to help shape, evaluate, and improve current and future defense capabilities. Our multidisciplinary team consists of systems engineers, software developers, human systems engineers, analysts, and other technical experts working together to address complex operational challenges.

Within this capacity, you will bring an operator's perspective into the engineering process by helping teams understand how systems are employed in realistic operational environments. You will work with warfighters, engineers, government sponsors, and industry partners to translate mission needs into operational concepts, requirements, scenarios, experiments, and system recommendations. You will also support the evaluation of emerging technologies and human-machine teaming concepts through exercises, demonstrations, experimentation, operational analysis, and test activities.

As the A5D Combat Systems Analyst – UAS Operations, you will…

• Serve as an operational subject matter expert supporting the development and evaluation of advanced defense capabilities with an emphasis on UAS, aviation, command and control, and human-machine teaming.


• Analyze military missions, operational concepts, workflows, and system interactions to identify capability gaps and opportunities for improvement.


• Translate operational needs, warfighter feedback, and mission challenges into system requirements, operational concepts, use cases, mission threads, and technical recommendations.


• Work directly with systems engineers, software developers, human systems engineers, analysts, government sponsors, and military operators throughout the system development and evaluation process.


• Develop realistic operational scenarios and mission threads to support system design, experimentation, test, and evaluation.


• Support the development and evaluation of concepts of operation (CONOPS), tactics, techniques, procedures, and employment concepts for emerging capabilities.


• Participate in exercises, demonstrations, test events, experiments, and operational assessments involving UAS and other military systems.


• Evaluate emerging technologies and system concepts to determine their operational utility and ability to address mission needs.


• Analyze results from exercises, experiments, demonstrations, and test activities and translate findings into actionable recommendations.


• Help design human-machine teaming concepts that effectively integrate operators, autonomous systems, decision-support technologies, sensors, and other mission systems.


• Engage with operational personnel and other stakeholders to capture feedback and ensure the warfighter perspective remains represented throughout development.


• Communicate operational findings and recommendations through technical documentation, reports, briefings, and presentations to technical teams, leadership, and government sponsors.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Mathematics, National Security, Military Studies, or another relevant discipline, or have equivalent relevant professional experience.


• Have significant experience with U.S. military operations, including operational planning, mission execution, training, test, evaluation, experimentation, or capability development.


• Have experience with UAS or military aviation systems and understand how these capabilities are employed within operational environments.


• Have experience translating operational needs, challenges, or user feedback into requirements, system concepts, operational concepts, or recommendations.


• Have experience working with multidisciplinary technical teams and can effectively communicate operational concepts to engineers, developers, and analysts.


• Possess strong analytical, problem-solving, oral communication, and written communication skills.


• Are comfortable engaging with military operators, government sponsors, engineers, developers, and other technical stakeholders.


• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have significant operational experience with Group 1–5 UAS.


• Have experience operating, instructing, evaluating, or developing UAS capabilities, including sensors, weapons, autonomy, command and control, and mission planning.


• Have experience supporting combat operations and operational planning, including development of CONOPS, mission threads, operational scenarios, TTPs, or training standards.


• Have experience conducting operational assessments, testing, validation, exercises, demonstrations, or experimentation involving military systems and emerging technologies.


• Have experience translating operational needs into technical requirements and capabilities, including working with defense industry partners on software, hardware, acquisition, or system integration efforts.


• Have experience supporting military capability development, including R&D, human-machine teaming, training and evaluation, and communicating findings and recommendations to senior military or government stakeholders.

Special Requirements

Willingness to travel up to 10% as needed.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually