Senior Cost Analyst / Estimator – Space Acquisition

ACT1 Federal LLC.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Health Insurance

401K with employer match

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Military Leave

Professional Development

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Job summary

ACT1 Federal LLC is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst / Estimator to support Space Force programs. You will provide cost-estimating, affordability, financial analysis, and decision support for complex space systems and portfolios.

This role requires deep DoD cost-estimating expertise and collaboration with cross-functional teams. The position entails developing life-cycle cost estimates, conducting data-driven analyses, and presenting findings to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field as listed.
• 8+ years DoD cost-estimating or related acquisition experience; 10+ years for senior level.
• Experience with life-cycle cost estimates for defense/space programs.
• Strong analytical, modeling, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with ACEIT or equivalent cost-estimating tools; advanced Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and evaluate life-cycle cost estimates for space programs.
• Conduct cost research, data normalization, trend analysis, cost models.
• Analyze program data to assess cost impacts and affordability.
• Prepare cost assessments, independent analyses, and executive briefings.
• Coordinate inputs with PM, engineering, contracting, and finance.
• Identify risks, data gaps, and mitigation approaches.
• Maintain cost data, documentation, and traceability for govt review.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Cost analysis

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics, finance, math, engineering, OR related

Tools

ACEIT

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Schedule (FT/PT): Full-Time

Travel Required: Up to 10%

Shift: Day

Remote Type: Onsite

Clearance required: Active Secret required; TS/SCI preferred

Division: Air and Space

Salary: $125,000 - $170,000 annually

Who is ACT1 Federal? ACT1 Federal LLC is a 100% employee-owned company. We’ve served the Department of Defense (DoD) for nearly thirty years. Our core missions include weapon systems engineering, logistics, space domain expertise, global defense and security, business and financial management for security assistance and major defense articles, as well as military training and arctic security. Join us!

***THIS POSITON IS CONTINGENT UPON CONTRACT AWARD***

Description: ACT1 Federal is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst / Estimator to support U.S. Space Force and Space Systems Command acquisition programs. The position provides cost-estimating, affordability, financial-analysis, and acquisition decision support for complex space systems and portfolios.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, update, and evaluate program and life-cycle cost estimates supporting space acquisition programs.
• Conduct cost research, data normalization, trend analysis, and development of cost-estimating relationships and models.
• Analyze program technical, schedule, risk, and financial information to assess cost impacts and affordability.
• Prepare cost assessments, independent analyses, executive briefings, and decision-support products.
• Support acquisition planning, milestone reviews, budget/POM activities, program reviews, and funding decisions.
• Coordinate cost-estimating inputs with program management, engineering, contracting, financial management, and other functional stakeholders.
• Identify cost risks, assumptions, data limitations, and potential mitigation approaches.
• Maintain supporting cost data, documentation, models, and traceability for Government review.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, Finance, Mathematics, Engineering, Operations Research, Business, or a related quantitative discipline.
• 8+ years of DoD cost-estimating, cost-analysis, financial-analysis, or closely related acquisition experience; 10+ years preferred for senior-level placement.
• Experience developing life-cycle cost estimates and supporting major defense or space acquisition programs.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, modeling, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Experience with ACEIT or comparable cost-estimating tools and advanced Microsoft Excel strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition, PPBE, affordability, risk, and milestone-review processes.
• S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, Air Force, or former SMC space acquisition experience strongly preferred.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI preferred.
• ACT1 Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-Term Disability
• Voluntary Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401K with employer match
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Military Leave
• Education, Training & Professional Development
• Voluntary Accidental Injury/Critical Illness/Hospital Care
• Voluntary Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, and Identity Protection

Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of flexibility and collaboration, whether that happens in person or remotely.

• If this position is listed as remote or hybrid, you’ll periodically work from a ACT1 Federal or client site facility.
• If this position is listed as onsite, you’ll work with colleagues and clients in person, as needed for the specific role.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.