ENGINEERING OPERATIONS LEAD

IGNITE; Huntsville (AL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ignite is seeking an Engineering Operations Lead in Huntsville, AL, to drive executive briefings, schedule coordination, and program governance across DoD and national security programs. This full-time role is based at the customer site with telework optional per requirements.

The candidate will oversee end-to-end staff rhythms, manage executive summaries, and ensure compliance with OPSEC and lifecycle documentation, contributing to mission-critical defense projects.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional DoD/federal program experience.
• Active DoD Secret clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Technical Management, or related STEM.
• Experience leading executive briefings and staff scheduling for senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead executive briefing consolidation and staff summaries.
• Coordinate weekly division staff meetings and action tracking.
• Manage DoD lifecycle documentation and card updates.
• Oversee classified tasking routing with OPSEC adherence.
• Support program governance and historical data collection.

Skills

Executive briefing

Staff coordination

DoD process knowledge

Governance & lifecycle

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Systems Engineering

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

SharePoint

Job description

Job Description

Igniters operate in the world’s most demanding environment. Igniters are self-motivated, mission- driven, and relentless in solving the Warfighters’ hardest problems. We move fast, think differently, and execute with precision to tackle high-stakes challenges across AI/ML, space and missile defense intelligence, EMSO, advanced analytics, and programmatic domains. As an employee-owned SDVOSB headquartered in Huntsville, AL, our team delivers mission-critical impact for the Army, Air Force, Space Force, MDA, NASA, DIA, and FBI.

Ignite exists to outpace the threat and deliver results that matter in the moments that count. Ignite is currently seeking a driven Engineering Operations Lead to join our team supporting TEAMS Next MDS Engineering in Huntsville, AL. This full-time position is based at the customer site; telework is allowed subject to customer requirements and an agreed schedule. This role supports the MDA Targets and Countermeasures Program Directorate (DTT). The source identifies the Chief Engineer / Targets Systems organization but truncates the remainder of the description.

Job Requirements

• Executive Engineering Battle Rhythm & Operational Briefings
• Targets Systems Engineering (DTTE) Weekly Staff: Manage end-to-end rhythm for weekly division staff meetings. Coordinate chart inputs, consolidate technical presentations on the portal, manage facility logistics, and deliver pre-brief packages to key leadership.
• Agency-Level Integration (MDA/DE SE Weekly Staff): Coordinate, synthesize, and submit executive updates on requirements baselines, schedule changes, and technical accomplishments to the MDA Directorate for Engineering (DE).
• Directorate Staff Calls (DTT Bi-Weekly): Aggregate and format Directorate-wide programmatic and technical status briefings for the Program Director and Front Office leadership.
• Engineering Technical Reviews (ETR): Track, de-conflict, and report 30/60/90-day major target program technical milestone reviews across target portfolios to DE. Harvest and deliver post-review Executive Summaries to agency leadership within required timeframes.
• Tasker & Workflow Management (ETMS2 Action Officer)
• Action Officer Operations: Serve as the primary DTTE Action Officer in the Enhanced Tasking Management System 2 (ETMS2). Triage, distribute, monitor, and drive timely closure for Congressional, OSD, and internal agency active taskers.
• Classified & Sensitive Tasking: Handle, ingest, and route classified and unclassified tasker inputs across SIPRNet and NIPRNet repositories with strict adherence to OPSEC and handling guidelines.
• Public Release & Media Requests: Process and facilitate Industry Requests for Media Engagement and MDA Public Release (PR) packages. Coordinate reviews with Acquisition, Legal, and Strategic Communications, drafting Staff Summary Sheets.
• Annual Historical Summaries & Data Calls: Lead the annual DTTE Historical Summary collection and coordinate inputs for Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) data calls and technical conference attendance nominations.
• Systems Engineering Governance & Lifecycle Documentation
• Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD): Serve as lead operational integrator for the annual DT Targets CARD update supporting the President’s Budget submit to Congress. Conduct kickoff alignments across project management shops (Logistics, Acquisition, Contracts, Software, Cyber, and IMTP Manifest teams). Consolidate classified and unclassified appendices.

Adjudicate comments via Form 100, generate Staff Summary Sheets, and shepherd packages through executive sign-off.

• PESHE Program Maintenance: Manage biennial updates to the Programmatic Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Evaluation (PESHE) in coordination with Targets Quality (DTOQ) and Environmental Management (DSF).
• Baseline Plans & SOP Governance: Oversee the review cycle, administrative accuracy, Form 100 comment matrix adjudication, formal routing, and publishing of core program documentation.
• Data Management & Configuration Control: Maintain configuration-controlled baseline archives on designated agency SharePoint portals, DOD365 environments, and SIPR shared networks.

Job Requirements And Qualifications

A minimum of 12 years of related work experience.

• Active DoD Secret clearance (U.S. Citizenship required). Must be able to maintain clearance and access to classified environments (SIPRNet).
• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Technical Management, or a related STEM discipline.
• 12+ years of professional experience supporting DoD / federal program offices, preferably in a SETA, Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS), or Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) capacity.
• Demonstrated track record managing operational battle rhythms, executive briefing consolidation, and technical meeting execution for senior military and civilian leaders.
• Direct experience tracking and adjudicating review comments utilizing formal systems (e.g., DoD Form 100 comment matrices).
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition lifecycle documentation (e.g., CARD, SEP, RMP, PESHE, TEMP).
• Strong administrative rigor in routing executive correspondence, Staff Summary Sheets (SSS), and official action packages.
• Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
• Working knowledge of task tracking systems (ETMS2 or similar DoD correspondence management tools).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior direct experience supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), specifically the Targets and Countermeasures Directorate (DTT) or Engineering Directorate (DE).
• Working familiarity DoW / MDA workflows.
• Experience coordinating across multi-organization teams including US Army DEVCOM (S3I), prime target hardware vendors, and national labs/FFRDCs.
• Proven ability to operate semi-autonomously, establish deadlines, and effectively de-conflict competing technical and programmatic priorities under tight turnarounds.

Security Clearance Requirements

Must have an active Secret clearance.

Education Requirements

Master’s degree; discipline to be confirmed.

Other Requirements

U.S. citizenship required. Travel required; frequency and duration to be confirmed.