Operations Lead - Mission Protection

Peraton; Fort Belvoir (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton seeks an Operations Lead to serve as a procedural and technical expert for Indications & Warnings (I&W) in defense of space assets. This senior BSA/WO role requires maintaining 24/7 readiness, certs, and guiding TTP development to protect missions.

You will analyze threats, coordinate COAs, and work on system workflows while ensuring operational continuity. On-site at a government facility in Springfield, VA, with broader mission protections across space domains.

Qualifications

• Experience in space defense operations and/or space operations with I&W tools.
• Applied knowledge of orbital mechanics and satellite operations.
• Active TS/SCI with adjudicated Poly.

Responsibilities

• Maintain dual certification in BSA and WO and proficiency on system tools.
• Develop TTPs and COAs to improve threshold criteria.
• Assist system integration of I&W tools and guide alerting thresholds.
• Report on operations capabilities, degradation, and system status.
• Detect threat activity and maintain space and terrestrial catalogs.
• Create daily and ad hoc leadership briefings for space events.
• Analyze satellite state data and report vulnerabilities to mission assets.
• Prioritize collection tasking and participate in space event planning.

Skills

Space operations

Orbital mechanics

Threat analysis

Mission planning

Education

BS/BA (space operations)

MS/MA

PhD

Tools

STK

DSS

SPADOC

ATLAS

ASW

DPS

MPS

Job description

Responsibilities

TheOperationsLeadis aproceduralandtechnicalexperton systems performing Indications and Warnings (I&W) functionsin defense ofcritical space assetsand isresponsible forenablingBattlespaceAwarenessand Mission Protectionteamsconducting 24/7operatorsto succeedin aSpace Warfightingdomain.

As the seniorBattlespaceAwareness(BSA)andWatchOperator(WO), youwillmaintain certification and readinessforthese crewpositionsand guide the development of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) and assist in course of action (COA) planningin support of mission protection.The successful candidate willmaintain awareness onhigh-interestthreat activity andsupport analysis,planning,training andexerciseactivitiesas an expert in space threatcapabilitiesand orbital mechanics.Missionprotection responsibilities includemonitoring I&W systems,reporting threatrisks and asset systemoperational statuses,criticallyanalyzingthreat pattern of behaviors, and identifyingandmitigating intelligence gaps in adversary capabilities.

The Operations Lead will work continuously to ensureexisting and developing system tool capabilities areexpediently integratedin current operational procedures, trainingmaterialsand job aids. Additionally,the lead mustunderstandsystemworkflows,missionimpactsduringtimes ofdegradationandhave the abilitycreatetemporary proceduresfor continuity of operations.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain dualcertification in BSA and WO24/7crew positions andcontinueproficiency on applicable system tools(i.e., Systems Tool Kit (STK),and other I&W tools)

• Development TTPs, COAsandwork to improve thresholds for checklist entry criteria

• Assistsystemintegrationefforts oflatest I&W software tools and capabilities, guide alerting and entry criteria thresholds as a mission subject-matter-expert

• Report on operations capabilities, system degradation, latencies and statuses that may impact the mission

• Detect threatactivity and maintain accurate terrestrial and space catalog databases

• Routinely create reports,products and brief leadershipdaily andad hoc for ongoing space events of interest

• Analyze various satellite state position data sources, make pattern-of-life based assessments and report on vulnerabilities to mission assets

• Prioritize and executecollectiontaskingusing available asset resources

• Participateinreal world and exercise space event planningand executionefforts

• Maintain Awareness of currenthigh-interestterrestrial and space-basedactivityaffecting spacedomain

• Perform contingency tasks;initiatepersonnelrecalls(when directed) andestablish operations loops

• Identify any system or intelligence gaps and assumptions that may pose a risk to mission success andreport, manage and mitigate those risks

• Work full-time on-site at a government facility in Springfield, VA

***This position is contingent upon award of contract***

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum experience: 8 years with a BS/BA, 6 years with an MS/MA, 3 years with a PhD, or 12 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree. Experience must include space defense operations and/or space operations, including the use of flight safety or Indications & Warning (I&W) system tools (i.e., STK, ASW, DPS, DSS, MPS)

• Experience demonstrating applied knowledge of orbital mechanics, conjunction assessment or related satellite operations

• Experience with STK, DSS, SPADOC, ATLAS or ASW systems

• Active TS/SCI with adjudicated Poly

Preferred Qualifications:

• 14+ years of combined priorspace operationsexperience working as anorbital analyst,flight safety analyst,BSA, WO,or satellite mission planner ataground station

• SME-level understanding of orbital mechanics, flight safety tools and mission applications

• 2+ years assigned IC organizations

• Advanced knowledge of foreign/domestic space & ground threat capabilities and space surveillance networks with prior experience in tasking space surveillance resources

• Prior space launch custody and/or maneuver processing experience

• Understanding of command structure, command authority and warfighting doctrine

• Prior experience tasking space surveillance resourcesand processing space events

• Experience advising and collaborating with military and civilian leaders

• Prior experience leading operational teams and managing projects

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.