Futures Planning Program Specialist

Office of Chief of Space Operations

Arlington (VA)

On-site

USD 102,000 - 158,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

Office of Chief of Space Operations in the United States Pentagon area seeks a Futures Planning Program Specialist to analyze space threats, technology trends, and future operating concepts. The role requires shaping doctrine, mission planning, and force design through senior-level briefings and cross‑agency coordination.

You will coordinate wargaming and experimentation, synthesize diverse data, and deliver practical insights to inform Space Force priorities while maintaining a TS/SCI clearance

Qualifications

Experience in space, national security, Joint, intelligence, technical, or operational planning environments.

Responsibilities

Research emerging threats, adversary approaches, technology developments, and operational trends to inform future operating environments, force design, concepts, doctrine, and mission planning.
Synthesize complex information from diverse sources, coordinate wargames and experimentation, assess prototypes, and brief senior leaders.
Translate research into polished briefings, papers, and actionable recommendations for leadership.

Skills

Futures planning

Wargaming

Space operations knowledge

Senior leader briefings

Job description

Hiring Agency: Office of Chief of Space Operations

Key Responsibilities

The United States Space Force (USSF) Headquarters (HQ) located at the Pentagon is searching for a Futures Planning Program Specialist (NH-0343-03, GS 12/13 equivalent).

Description: As a Futures Planning Program Specialist shaping the future of the United States Space Force, you will research emerging threats, adversary approaches, technology developments, and operational trends to deliver practical insights that inform future operating environments, force design, concepts, doctrine, and mission planning.

Utilizing a diverse network of intelligence, operational, technical, Joint, allied, commercial, and interagency partners, you will synthesize complex information, coordinate wargames and experimentation, assess prototypes, and brief senior leaders. This role offers a curious, independent problem-solver the opportunity to tackle complex, cross-disciplinary challenges, build consensus, and help secure enduring space superiority.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in space, national security, Joint, intelligence, technical, or operational planning environments, paired with deep knowledge of Space Force mission areas and the critical relationships among space, cyber, data, intelligence, and command-and-control architectures.

They possess a proven background in future force planning, concept and doctrine development, mission analysis, wargaming, experimentation, prototyping, testing, or science-and-technology activities, along with a demonstrated ability to translate complex research into polished senior-leader briefings, papers, and actionable recommendations.

While no specific degree or certification is required, the candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance and meet all positional suitability standards.

Key Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of Space Force mission areas, enterprise functions, and associated operational and technical considerations, including Space Domain Awareness; Offensive and Defensive Space Operations; Positioning, Navigation, and Timing; Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; Satellite Communications; Environmental Monitoring; Missile Warning; Space Operations; Spacelift; command and control; data transport; ground; cyber; test and training; and other cross-mission enabling capabilities.

Includes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods used to assess and improve mission area designs, enterprise designs, operational effectiveness, technical feasibility, dependencies, gaps, seams, risks, and implementation options. Knowledge of the National Security Space, Joint, Intelligence Community, allied and partner, commercial, and interagency enterprise, including how space capabilities enable broader military and national security missions.

Includes knowledge of relationships among space, terrestrial, cyber, data, intelligence, command and control, and operational architectures sufficient to assess external dependencies, interoperability, integration requirements, and mission impacts.

Knowledge of science and technology, experimentation, prototyping, test, advanced technology demonstration, and wargaming activities, including methods for supporting development and prototype plans, assessing prototype and demonstration results, integrating wargaming insights, aligning S&T activities with Service priorities and Objective Force needs, and coordinating with research, acquisition, operational, commercial, partner, and interagency organizations.

Ability to gather, assemble, analyze, and integrate information from multiple sources; draw conclusions; develop options and recommended solutions; and package the results in briefings, papers, or reports suitable for senior leader review and decision-making. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, negotiate complex issues, resolve differences across diverse stakeholder groups, and maintain effective working relationships.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Office of Chief of Space Operations, Department of the Air Force.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $102415 – $158355/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Top Secret security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-17.

How many openings are available?

There are 2 openings for this position.