Senior Cyberspace Operations Planner, Site Lead

Leidos; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 131,000 - 237,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Subject Matter Expert-level Joint Cyberspace Operational Planner to serve as a Site Lead for on-site support to USCYBERCOM and related commands. The role focuses on planning, targeting, and integration of cyber capabilities, leveraging years of Joint Operations experience and top security clearance.

The position requires leadership, strategic planning, and proven ability to coordinate complex operations across multiple organizations to defend national cyber interests.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in STEM or National Security Studies required.
• 10+ years as Joint Operations Planner or leading Joint Operations Planning processes.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph.
• Experience leading teams and advising organizational leadership across USCYBERCOM.
• Knowledge of JPP, JOPES, and APEX planning guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide SME guidance in Joint Cyberspace plans development and staffing.
• Serve as Site Lead within USCYBERCOM J3/CNMF/JTF-ARES.
• Support targeting selection, validation, synchronization, and integration in Cyber Warfare.
• Draft and staff Operational Plans, Orders, and FRAGOs.
• Coordinate CO planning activities and integrate cyber capabilities into plans.
• Develop concepts of support, courses of action, and integration with external capabilities.
• Provide leadership and situational awareness across projects and crisis teams.
• Review and align CO plans with organizational objectives.

Skills

Joint Cyberspace planning

Team leadership

USCYBERCOM knowledge

Operational planning

Security clearance TS/SCI

Cyber operations knowledge

Communication & briefing

Education

BA/BS in STEM or National Security Studies

SAMS/SAWS/JAWS training

JPME II international joint operations planning

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. The Leidos Intelligence Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world.

Your greatest work is ahead!

The Intelligence Sector seeks Subject Matter Expert-level Joint Cyberspace Operational Planners to serve as Site Leads within United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). Individuals will provide expert guidance and direction to planning activities that underpin USCYBERCOM Cyberspace Operational Support Services (COSS) program, leading Operational Planning portion of Leidos on-site contract support to range of services provided to USCYBERCOM Operations directorate (J3), Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and Joint Task Force-Ares (JTF-ARES). Timely and comprehensive operational planning support to USCYBERCOM J3, CNMF, and JTF-ARES will inform employment of available Cyberspace capabilities, development of future Cyberspace capabilities, and drive the Joint Planning and Targeting processes.

This opportunity is in anticipation of a potential future contract award.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide subject matter expertise in Joint Cyberspace plans development and staffing processes within collaborative environment to enable range of Cyberspace Operations (CO) according to USCYBERCOM planning guidance and applicable Joint publications.
• Perform role as contract Site Lead within USCYERCOM J3, CNMF, or JTF-ARES, advising staff and leading daily activities to meet program requirements and drive USCYBERCOM mission.
• Support targeting selection, validation, synchronization, and enable integration during the execution of activities within Cyber Warfare domain.
• Draft and staff foundational planning documents such as Operational Plans (OPLANS), Operational Orders (OPORDs), and Fragmentary Orders (FRAGOs).
• Support Joint Operational Planning Groups and Teams (OPG/OPT), and develop and integrate Cyber capabilities into plans.
• Coordinate CO planning activities through the IJSTO to include Evaluation Request and Response Messages, SAP procedures, and the RAPCO.
• Develop concepts of support, courses of action, integrate command and external capabilities, coordinate and document comprehensive plans.
• Provide leadership and situational awareness across range of projects, Crisis Action Teams, and current operations activities supporting OPTs.
• Develop and review specific CO plans and guidance for integration into broader planning activities and ensure execution and resource allocation decisions align with organization objectives.
• Demonstrate knowledge of cyber threats and attack methods and techniques emanating from state and non-state adversaries and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space as focus of threats.
• Develop and execute comprehensive programs for assessing CO and validating operational performance characteristics.
• Review, approve, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for research, development, and/or acquisition of cyber capabilities.
• Develop and maintain deliberate and/or CO crisis plans and analyze and assess internal and external partner CO capabilities and tools.
• Transition operational planning efforts to current operations.
• Navigate organizational structure as it pertains to full spectrum CO, including the functions, responsibilities, and interrelationships among distinct internal elements
• Integrate and synchronize intelligence planning activities with operational planning timelines.
• Conduct long-range, strategic planning efforts with internal and external partners in cyber activities.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to organization cyber objectives.
• Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.

What does Leidos need from me?

• Active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance with Counterintelligence (CI) Polygraph required. Must be SCI eligible.
• BA/BS degree within STEM field, National Security Studies, or field of study supporting operational art & science. Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• 10 plus years’ experience as Joint Operations Planner or leading Joint Operations Planning processes, to include working knowledge of JPP, JOPES, and APEX planning guidance.
• Total years’ experience as Joint Operations Planner can be mitigated by completion of advanced service-specific planning schools such as SAMS, SAWS, and JAWS.
• 10 plus years active within field of Cyber or 15 plus years combined experience within fields of Cyber, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, Information Technology or related fields, with preference for combination leadership and hands‑on experience over the course of career.
• Experience leading teams and providing senior‑level advice to organizational leadership within USCYBERCOM J3, CNMF, or JTF-ARES across both Offensive Cyberspace and Defensive Operations lines of effort.
• Recipient of specialized education in military joint operations planning through JPME Level II.
• Possess deep familiarity with military operations including phases of planning, approval, and execution.
• Intimate familiarity with applicable Joint Publications such as JP 5‑0 Joint Operational Planning.
• Graduate of formal training as Cyber Operational Planner within Department of Defense or Intelligence Community.
• Broad knowledge of Blue‑space Cyber capabilities and demonstrate understanding of available Cyber infrastructure or platforms to conduct CO.
• Deep knowledge of the range of CO and their underlying intelligence support needs, topics, and focus areas, and computer networking fundamentals as well as concepts, terminology, and operations of a wide range of communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
• Ability to support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, to include documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a fast‑paced collaborative environment, ability to proactively multi‑task and meet short deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex and technical data to nontechnical consumers.
• Able to work across Department of Defense and Intelligence Community agencies to support organizational goals.

Favorable if you have:

• Masters’ Degree within STEM field, National Security Studies, or field of study supporting operational art and science.
• Active Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
• Deep familiarity with USCYBERCOM organizational structure and mission.
• Prior experience supporting Joint operations across multiple warfighting domains.
• Demonstrated experience incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into operations at any level to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operational outcomes.
• Experience with Space-enabled CO.
• Formal training within field of Cyber Warfare and Joint Operations
• Familiar with art of Data Science and applicability to CO.
• Familiar with Microsoft Power BI data visualization software.
• Desired Certifications: DoD 8570 IAT Level II (CCNA Security, COMPTIA CySA+, COMPTIA Security + CE, GICSP, GSEC, SSCP).

COSS

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range

Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.