Senior Tactical Aviation Operations Lead

ManTech; United States; Remote; USD 193,000 - 354,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Disability Insurance

Retirement and Savings

Learning and Development opportunities

Job summary

ManTech seeks a Senior Tactical Aviation Operations Lead in Lexington Park, MD for a DoD Modeling & Simulation initiative. The role combines operational expertise with advanced software, advising government stakeholders as a Trusted Operational Advisor.

You will guide development of high-fidelity tactical scenarios, lead cross‑functional teams, and ensure mission relevance through Agile and digital engineering practices. Must travel CONUS and be eligible for Top Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 12+ years of experience supporting military tactical operations and tactical aviation system development.
• Prior military service as a commissioned officer with demonstrated expertise in operational employment of tactical aviation platforms.
• Previously qualified strike lead.
• Experience with 5th Generation fighter tactical employment.
• Developmental or Operational Test experience in a tactical aviation platform.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and solving mission-critical problems in operational or technical environments.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex tactical trade-offs and solution recommendations to senior government stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Providing subject matter expertise in the tactical employment of military systems to inform design decisions and prioritization of development efforts.
• Evaluating Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions to balance delivery schedules, fidelity, and mission alignment.
• Leading requirements development and refinement to ensure simulation systems support validated operational use cases and mission-critical outcomes.
• Championing the integration of Agile development practices and digital engineering workflows within operational testing and evaluation processes.
• Designing and overseeing the creation of realistic, high-fidelity tactical scenarios for use in synthetic training and evaluation environments.
• Leading test and evaluation (T&E) activities, including flight and ground event support, with expert interpretation of simulation and stimulation system performance.
• Directing the development and delivery of user-focused training materials to ensure effective employment of simulation capabilities by operational personnel.
• Leading operational SME teams to resolve complex issues, ensure alignment with operational goals, and manage task execution across the contract lifecycle.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic advisory

SME facilitation

Mission analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

General information

Requisition # R71851

Locations USA-Remote Work

Posting Date 11/03/2026

Security Clearance Required Top Secret

Remote Type Fully Remote

Time Type Full time

Description & Requirements

Shape the future of defense with MANTECH! Join a team dedicated to safeguarding our nation through advanced tech and innovative solutions. Since 1968, we’ve been a trusted partner to the Department of Defense, delivering cutting-edge projects that make a real impact. Dive into exciting opportunities in Cybersecurity, IT, Data Analytics and more. Propel your career forward and be part of something extraordinary. Your journey starts now—protect and innovate with MANTECH!

***This is for a future opportunity***

MANTECH seeks a career and customer-oriented Senior Tactical Aviation Operations Lead in Lexington Park, MD. This position offers remote work, but the individual must be available for CONUS travel as needed.

This role will provide operational subject matter expertise for a critical Department of Defense Modeling & Simulation (M&S) initiative. This role is integral to bridging operational reality with advanced software systems, guiding development efforts that ensure tactical relevance and mission effectiveness. You will advise government stakeholders as a Trusted Operational Advisor, leveraging extensive military experience to shape digital simulation environments that accurately reflect modern combat scenarios.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Providing subject matter expertise in the tactical employment of military systems - including USN and USAF aviation platforms, advanced weapons systems, electronic warfare, and command and control - to inform technical design decisions and prioritization of development efforts
• Evaluating Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions to recommend tools that balance delivery schedules, fidelity, and mission alignment
• Leading requirements development and refinement to ensure simulation systems support validated operational use cases and mission-critical outcomes
• Championing the integration of Agile development practices and digital engineering workflows within operational testing and evaluation processes
• Designing and overseeing the creation of realistic, high-fidelity tactical scenarios for use in synthetic training and evaluation environments
• Leading test and evaluation (T&E) activities, including flight and ground event support, with expert interpretation of simulation and stimulation system performance
• Directing the development and delivery of user-focused training materials to ensure effective employment of simulation capabilities by operational personnel
• Leading operational SME teams to resolve complex issues, ensure alignment with operational goals, and manage task execution across the contract lifecycle. Leading engagements with key program stakeholders.
• Must be available for CONUS travel as needed

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• 12+ years of experience supporting military tactical operations and tactical aviation system development
• Prior military service as a commissioned officer with demonstrated expertise in operational employment of tactical aviation platforms
• Previously qualified strike lead
• Experience with 5th Generation fighter tactical employment
• Developmental or Operational Test experience in a tactical aviation platform
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and solving mission-critical problems in operational or technical environments
• Demonstrated ability to present complex tactical trade-offs and solution recommendations to senior government stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience supporting system development and testing of defense technologies
• Experience supporting Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) or distributed battlespace modeling initiatives (NCTE, DMON)
• Familiarity with incorporating operational SME feedback into Agile software development sprints and DevSecOps pipelines
• Weapons School or Test Pilot School Graduate

Clearance Requirements

• Must possess an active Top Secret clearance with current SCI eligibility

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position approximately 50% of the time
• Occasionally required to move throughout office spaces to access equipment, files, or interact with co-workers
• Must be able to enter and exit simulator cockpits and fly simulated missions
• Must be able to effectively communicate with team members, leadership, and customers, including in presentation settings, and convey accurate technical information

The projected compensation range for this position is $192,600.00-$353,500.00. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, MANTECH invests in its employees beyond just compensation. MANTECH’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, short-term and long-term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.

MANTECH considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to disability or veteran status or any other status protected under any federal, state, or local law or regulation.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position with MANTECH, please email us at [e-mail] and provide your name and contact information.