Senior Advisor - NAVFAC EXWC

DCS Corp; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 222,000; Full time

Job summary

DCS Corp seeks a Senior Advisor to provide strategic, technical, and operational guidance across multi‑discipline NAVFAC EXWC programs in support of RDT&E, prototyping, cyber, and unmanned systems. You’ll shape engineering approaches, technology development, and compliance with DoD standards, influencing mission critical decisions at the program level.

You will review analyses, prototypes, and test results, advise on system architecture, cyber resilience, and training packages, and participate

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI highly preferred for classified work.
• 12+ years in DoD science & technology, RDT&E, systems engineering, or naval engineering.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, CS or related field; master’s preferred.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition docs, MIL STDs, DFARS, CMMC compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior‑level strategic, technical, and operational guidance across ES&C, C5ISR, unmanned systems, cyber, and ISR.
• Advise government leads on technology gaps, risk areas, and across program design, prototypes, and test results.
• Review analyses, prototypes, TDPs, AoAs, and training packages for alignment with PWS.
• Engage DoD partners and stakeholders, communicating complex concepts to senior leaders.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or related field

Master’s degree strongly preferred

Active Secret clearance

12 years senior‑level DoD/engineering experience

Job description

DCS is looking a Senior Advisor will serve as a strategic, technical, and operational expert supporting NAVFAC EXWC’s multidisciplinary RDT&E, prototyping, engineering, cyber, and unmanned systems missions. This role offers the opportunity to directly influence mission‑critical decisions by providing senior‑level guidance to program teams, technical leads, and government stakeholders. You’ll ensure engineering approaches, technology development, cybersecurity integration, and operational planning remain technically sound, mission aligned, and compliant with DoD standards.

Although not a direct project management role, the Senior Advisor plays a pivotal part in shaping program execution—evaluating concepts, advising on engineering methods, guiding capability development, and offering informed recommendations across the full spectrum of activities outlined in the PWS. Candidates with deep NAVFAC EXWC or Naval RDT&E experience will thrive in this high‑visibility, high‑impact position supporting strategic decision making.

Essential Job Functions

In this senior advisory capacity, you will provide expert insight across engineering, prototyping, cyber, ISR, modeling & simulation, and unmanned systems efforts spanning airborne, surface, subsurface, and littoral domains. You will work closely with government decision makers and multidisciplinary teams, reviewing analysis, prototypes, technical documentation, and test results to ensure alignment with mission priorities. Your expertise helps guide system architecture decisions, technology insertion planning, operational integration, and training development for next‑generation capabilities.

Strategic & Technical Advisory

• Provide senior‑level expertise across RDT&E efforts involving ES&C, C5ISR, ISR payloads, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, modeling & simulation, prototyping, and marine testing.
• Advise government leads on emerging technologies, capability gaps, and technical risk areas.
• Review engineering deliverables—including analyses, prototypes, TDPs, AoAs, STI reports, training packages, and integration plans for accuracy and alignment with PWS requirements.
• Counsel program teams on DoD acquisition processes, standards, and compliance with NAVFAC EXWC mission needs.

Program, Technical & Mission Guidance

• Offer expert recommendations throughout concept design, prototype development, integration, and operational testing across multiple domains.
• Advise on system architecture design, interoperability challenges, cyber resiliency, and network or information‑transport performance.
• Help interpret modeling, simulation, test data, marine surveys, and UxV operational results to support informed decision making.
• Guide program teams on training standards, development of training packages, and TTPs for systems transitioning into operational use.

Oversight, Evaluation & Assurance

• Evaluate engineering approaches for feasibility, cost, schedule impact, technical risk, and mission alignment.
• Provide advisory oversight related to CMMC Level 2 requirements, clearances, classified facility needs, export controls, and handling of GFI/GFP.
• Review transition‑in/transition‑out plans and advise on continuity, risk mitigation, and knowledge transfer.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior technical representative in discussions with DoD partners, Intelligence Community organizations, laboratories, and international R&D collaborators.
• Deliver independent assessments during briefings, project reviews, and strategic planning sessions.

Required Skills

• Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI highly preferred due to classified work and facility requirements in Ventura County.
• 12 years of senior‑level experience in DoD science & technology, RDT&E, systems engineering, prototyping, ISR systems, UxVs, C5ISR, or naval expeditionary engineering; Prior experience with NAVFAC EXWC, NIWC PAC, NSWC PCD, NAVSEA, ONR, or similar naval engineering organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or related field; master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of ES&C engineering, prototyping, cybersecurity integration, modeling & simulation, sensor systems, and ISR interoperability supporting PWS Tasks 2–9.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition documentation, technical data packages, MIL STDs, DFARS, DIACAP/RMF, and CMMC compliance requirements.
• Strong advisory and communication skills with the ability to distill complex information for senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and guide teams without direct managerial authority.

Desired Skills

• Prior NAVFAC EXWC Oceans Department (OC) experience.
• Experience supporting UxV operations, ISR payload integration, rapid prototyping, or mission‑driven R&D.
• Knowledge of ITAR/EAR export controls and foreign disclosure processes.
• Experience advising on training package development and operationalization of prototype systems.

Pay Range and Benefits

There are a variety of factors that can influence salary at DCS Corp, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications.

Salary Range: $123,639 - $222,211

At DCS, we pride ourselves on providing flexibility that allows employees to balance meaningful work with their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for learning and development.

Our broad and competitive mix of benefits is designed to support and protect employees and their families. Our robust benefit offerings include medical, dental, 401k, ESOP, PTO, education reimbursement, work/life balance, parental and other leave programs.

Learn more about our benefits here: DCS Corp Benefits.