Hypersonic Missile SME: Industrial Base & Risk Insights

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.; Alexandria (VA); Remote; USD 131,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking a Hypersonic Missile Subject Matter Expert to provide remote support to DoD programs. You will perform in-depth research, analysis, and reporting on hypersonic missile ecosystems and industry capabilities for senior stakeholders.

The role requires 20+ years of missile experience, DoW program office familiarity, and the ability to travel up to 20%. A Secret clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline.
• 20+ years of hypersonic missiles experience.
• Experience in a DoW missile program office (acquisition, engineering, logistics, or industrial base).
• Excellent writing, presentation, and analytical communication skills with experience producing formal reports.
• Ability to clearly convey complex technical issues to senior stakeholders across Federal agencies.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level research, analysis, and reporting on hypersonic missile production ecosystems, supply chains, and industrial capabilities.
• Develop detailed written products – memos, reports, briefings, and data summaries – for senior DoW stakeholders.
• Identify capability gaps, production constraints, and opportunities to strengthen the missile industrial base; oversee program planning and risk analyses.

Skills

Hypersonic missile expertise

DoW missile program office experience

Excellent writing and analytical comms

Active Secret clearance

Ability to travel up to 20%

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Master's degree (desired)

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.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM. SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have a near-term need for a Hypersonic Missile Subject Matter Expert to provide remote support.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced Hypersonic Missile Subject Matter Expert(SME) to provide high-level support to Department of War programs with in-depth research, analysis, and reporting on hypersonic missile production ecosystems, supply chains, and industrial capabilities. The SME will provide insights to senior leaders, inform decisionmaking, and help assess risks and opportunities within the hypersonic missile industrial base. The SME will direct qualitative and quantitative research on hypersonic missile production, supply chains, and industrial base dependencies, and will oversee the development of detailed written products - including memos, reports, briefings, and data summaries - for senior DoW stakeholders. The role includes identifying capability gaps, production constraints, material challenges, vendor dependencies, and opportunities to strengthen the missile industrial base. Engage with seniorleaders in government program offices and industry partners, as well other technical experts to collect data and develop research hypotheses. Contribute to modeling and assessment of production chains, capacity, and timelines. Additional responsibilities include overseeing program planning, risk assessments, and strategic options analysis, with travel up to 20% to government sites, program offices, and industrial facilities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering, physics, data analytics, operations research, or related).
• 20+ years of experience with hypersonic missiles or the hypersonic missile industrial base.
• Experience within a DoW missile program office (acquisition, engineering, logistics, or industrial base).
• Excellent writing, presentation, and analytical communication skills, with demonstrated experience producing formal reports based on research findings.
• Ability to clearly convey complex technical issues to senior stakeholders across Federal agencies.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Desired:

• Prior experience supporting OSW, Joint Staff, or Service staff.
• Master's degree in a relevant technical or analytical field.
• Experience leading a DoW missile program office (acquisition, engineering, logistics, or industrial base) or serving as Senior Technical Advisor.
• Industry experience producing missiles, components, or subcomponents.
• Experience with a Service's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process.
• Experience developing visual or functional models of production chains or industrial processes.
• Active Top Secret clearance.

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. , Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $91.00/Hr. - USD $111.00/Hr.