Operations Research Analyst & Planner

Darkblade Systems; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Medical insurance

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending

Vision insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

Holiday pay

Job summary

Darkblade Systems, a CIS Secure company, seeks an Operations Research Analyst and Planner to support USAFCENT CUAS operations. You will analyze plans, coordinate with USARCENT/USCENTCOM, and advise on capability gaps, readiness, and rapid acquisition of CUAS assets.

Onsite work is required with potential travel. Top-secret/SCI eligibility is required; candidates should have extensive Air Defense/CUAS experience, strong MS Office skills, and familiarity with mission command systems.

Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience, to include cumulative experience supporting Air Defense and CUAS activities.
• Minimum two (2) years of Air Defense or CUAS planning experience in either Service Component Command, Combatant Command or Joint Staff organization.
• Experience with digital mission command systems to include: AMDWS, FAAD C2, and ADSI.
• Familiarization with Link-16 and associated equipment and processes.
• Experience with the staffing of integrating CUAS with Air Defense systems and processes.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office Products and use of the NIPR/SIPRNet/JWICS.
• Working knowledge of the Military Orders process for the effective staffing at Battalion, Brigade, and Service Component Command levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide planning input to emergent tasks in the USAFCENT CUAS cell, including support to MTT and coordination with USARCENT/USCENTCOM.
• Accountability and reporting of blue force CUAS capability across theater, focusing on USAFCENT equities.
• Inform on emerging operational capabilities and plan for prioritized employment in theater.
• Identify capability gaps and requirements to mitigate emerging threat profiles.
• Synchronize Army Senior Component Command capabilities across USCENTCOM AO ensuring cross‑component integration.
• Represent USAFCENT CUAS equities in high‑level briefings and information exchanges; maintain understanding of joint equities.
• Communicate readiness of CUAS platforms to Service Component and Combatant Command leadership.
• Review and recommend CUAS UMR and rapid acquisition deployments.
• Provide assessments on CUAS assets against emerging threats for mitigation.
• Draft Military Orders and supporting docs using MS Office and other platforms.

Skills

CUAS planning

Air Defense

MS Office

NIPR/SIPRNet/JWICS

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

AMDWS

FAAD C2

ADSI

Link-16

MS Office

Job description

Darkblade Systems, a CIS Secure company, is a trusted provider of specialized capabilities to priority programs within the defense and intelligence communities, delivering scientific, engineering, technical, operational support and training services. Darkblade strives to be a business that puts people first: clients, colleagues, employees, and teammates. Our cleared personnel are experts in the operationalization and deployment of new and emerging technologies. We're seeking an Operations Research Analyst and Planner for a unique, tailored mission.

Responsibilities

• Provide planning input to emergent tasks in the USAFCENT CUAS cell, to include supporting the USAFCENT CUAS Mobile Training Team (MTT), and any shared equities or overlapping missions with other in-theater C-UAS MTT and Red/Blue operational support capabilities, to include conducting close coordination with USARCENT and USCENTCOM.
• Responsible for the daily accountability and reporting of all blue force CUAS capability across theater, particularly as it applies to USAFCENT equities.
• Inform on emerging operational capabilities and plan for prioritized employment of capabilities within the theater of operations.
• Identify current capability gaps and requirements to mitigate emerging threat profiles.
• Support synchronization of Army Senior Component Command capabilities across the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility ensuring cross component integration of capabilities.
• Represent USAFCENT CUAS equities on Combatant Command and Department-level information exchange to include Boards, Bureaus, Centers, Cells, and Working Groups (B2C2WG) and General Officer level briefings. Maintain significant understanding of USARCENT, USNAVCENT, USSOCCENT, CJTF-OIR, and other Joint CUAS equities to ensure proper de-confliction and coordination.
• Communicate effectively to inform Service Component and Combatant Command leadership and staff on readiness of CUAS platforms within USCENTCOM.
• Conduct review, analysis, and recommendations for all CUAS User Acceptance Urgent Material Release (UMR) and application of rapid acquisition capabilities into theater.
• Provide Higher Headquarters with assessments and recommendations on the application of CUAS assets against emerging threat profiles for mitigation.
• Planner will support system procurement and placement with relevant knowledgeable on all C-UAS systems employment and layered defense techniques and technical limitations
• Continuously update recurring briefing materials to keep current with emerging technological and operational updates.
• Coordinate with enterprise action officers and planners to ensure DOTMLPF-P integration on current and emergent capabilities.
• Ensure CUAS data repositories and documents are updated and propose refinement of requirements in coordination with the Service directorates and Command team.
• Draft Military Orders, briefings, supporting documents using MS Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) and other software platforms.
• Review and recommend concurrence or revisions of a variety of publications pertaining to C-UAS operations.
• Provide recommendations on the optimal sensor/system package for a given mission set or deployment location, based on provided intelligence, operational assessments, site surveys, and expertise of the various available sensors
• Review, understand and provide technical assessment to the CUAS Coordination Team following all CUAS events.

Operating Hours and Expectations

• This position operates 100% onsite unless otherwise discussed and approved by the Program Manager and customer; work is conducted on a standard eight (8) hour schedule Monday - Friday.

Travel

• This position may require routine and/or extended travel periods with minimal notice, this may include travel OCONUS.

Qualifications

Clearance

• Active and current Top Secret with SCI eligibility required upon application for initial consideration. Active TS/SCI, preferred. *This position is not up for sponsorship or clearance upgrade outside the SCI nomination. This includes clearance reactivation.*

Education

• Bachelors Degree, required.
  • 4 years of additional experience may be considered as a substitution for formal degree.

Certification(s)

• None

Required Skills and Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience, to include cumulative experience supporting Air Defense and Group 1-3 CUAS activities and operations.
• Minimum two (2) years of Air Defense or CUAS planning experience in either Service Component Command, Combatant Command or Joint Staff organization.
• Experience with digital mission command systems to include: AMDWS, FAAD C2, and ADSI.
• Familiarization with Link-16 and associated equipment and processes.
• Experience with the staffing of integrating CUAS with Air Defense systems and processes.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office Products and use of the NIPR/SIPRNet/JWICS.
• Working knowledge of the Military Orders process for the effective staffing at Battalion, Brigade, and Service Component Command levels.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Retired or Honorably Discharged O-4 or higher Staff Officer, with Air Defense Artillery and/or Fires specialization.
• Prior military experience working within USARCENT, USAFCENT, and/or USCENTCOM Command Headquarters.
• Experience with Combined Arms Services and/or Combined and Joint Fires and CUAS operations.

Benefits

At CIS Secure and its associated companies, Intrepid Solutions and Services and Darkblade Systems, we believe in promoting fair and transparent pay practices. We are committed to disclosing the compensation range for transparency and to set clear expectations for all applicants for this posting. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base salary for the advertised job, promotion, or transfer opportunity. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. The actual salary offered may vary based on various factors including but not limited to relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, education, geographic location, as well as internal equity, and alignment to market data.

Job Type: Full-time (onsite)

Pay Range: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Medical insurance
• Health Savings Account option
• Flexible Spending
• Vision insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Ancillary offerings (Hospital Indemnity, Accident, Critical Illness, Pet Insurance)
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday pay

CIS Secure is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.