Senior Targeting Officer

Nightwing; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401k plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Nightwing, based in Northern Virginia, is seeking a cleared Senior Targeting Officer to lead and monitor collection operations in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment. The role requires fusing multi-INT data, guiding analysts, and delivering timely recommendations to mission leadership while coordinating with partners.

The successful candidate will bring deep targeting experience, strong analytic judgment, and the ability to communicate complex findings clearly.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph, or ability to obtain and maintain required clearance.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, military, law enforcement, intelligence, or operational experience.
• 5+ years of experience in targeting, collection management, operational case management, all-source analysis, or related intelligence operations.
• Experience with targeting tools, databases, and all-source targeting methodologies.
• Working knowledge of multiple intelligence disciplines, including SIGINT, GEOINT, HUMINT, OSINT, and MASINT.
• Experience generating leads and developing actionable intelligence against strategic-level or national-level targets.
• Experience managing taskings and information flow across multiple organizations.
• Experience making complex analytic and operational judgments under time pressure in high-stress environments.
• Ability to work rotating shifts in a 24/7 operations center, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to deliver clear and concise briefings to senior leadership.
• High school diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

• Guide and monitor the execution of collection operations supporting defined intelligence requirements and high-priority targets.
• Research, analyze, and fuse complex multi-INT data sets to generate leads that advance dynamic overseas operations.
• Integrate collection results, intelligence reporting, and mission partner inputs into a cohesive targeting narrative.
• Identify information and collection gaps and take proactive steps to close them, including drafting and disseminating requests for information.
• Provide resource allocation recommendations that maximize collection effectiveness against assigned priorities.
• Manage taskings and maintain information flow across multiple organizations within operational decision timelines.
• Deliver time-critical recommendations to mission leadership and senior stakeholders, including well-reasoned dissenting perspectives when warranted.
• Brief senior leadership, analysts, and mission partners through scheduled briefings and ad hoc operational updates.
• Author concise written summaries, assessments, and targeting support products that capture salient all-source information.
• Apply knowledge of customer tradecraft and relevant legal and policy guidance to targeting decisions.
• Develop and maintain authority on assigned target sets, areas of responsibility, targeting methodologies, and operational tools.
• Mentor junior targeting officers and support team development, knowledge transfer, and operational readiness.
• Support domestic and international travel, exercises, or short-duration deployments as required.
• Perform other targeting or operational support duties as assigned.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Professional briefing

Time management under pressure

Clear written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies, national security, international affairs, political science, regional studies, or related field

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Targeting tools & databases

Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.

Nightwing is seeking an experienced and cleared Senior Targeting Officer in the Northern Virginia area. This position requires work in a secure, mission-focused operations environment. Rotating shift work may include nights, weekends, holidays, and surge support based on mission requirements.

This position may require travel as determined by the Customer.

Position Summary

The Senior Targeting Officer guides and monitors the execution of collection operations against high-priority national security threats and integrates the resulting multi-INT information into a coherent intelligence picture. Operating in a fast-paced 24/7 intelligence operations center, this role generates leads that advance dynamic overseas operations, identifies and closes information gaps, and delivers time-critical recommendations to mission leadership and senior stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring deep targeting experience, mature analytic judgment, and recognized authority on an assigned target set and area of responsibility. This role requires the ability to fuse raw, time-sensitive intelligence from multiple sources, manage taskings and information flow across organizations within operational decision timelines, and communicate complex information accurately in both formal and ad hoc settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Guide and monitor the execution of collection operations supporting defined intelligence requirements and high-priority targets.

• Research, analyze, and fuse complex multi-INT data sets to generate leads that advance dynamic overseas operations.

• Integrate collection results, intelligence reporting, and mission partner inputs into a cohesive targeting narrative.

• Identify information and collection gaps and take proactive steps to close them, including drafting and disseminating requests for information.

• Provide resource allocation recommendations that maximize collection effectiveness against assigned priorities.

• Manage taskings and maintain information flow across multiple organizations within operational decision timelines.

• Deliver time-critical recommendations to mission leadership and senior stakeholders, including well-reasoned dissenting perspectives when warranted.

• Brief senior leadership, analysts, and mission partners through scheduled briefings and ad hoc operational updates.

• Author concise written summaries, assessments, and targeting support products that capture salient all-source information.

• Apply knowledge of customer tradecraft and relevant legal and policy guidance to targeting decisions.

• Develop and maintain authority on assigned target sets, areas of responsibility, targeting methodologies, and operational tools.

• Mentor junior targeting officers and support team development, knowledge transfer, and operational readiness.

• Support domestic and international travel, exercises, or short-duration deployments as required.

• Perform other targeting or operational support duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph, or ability to obtain and maintain required clearance and polygraph eligibility based on contract requirements.

• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, military, law enforcement, intelligence, or operational experience.

• 5+ years of experience in targeting, collection management, operational case management, all-source analysis, or related intelligence operations.

• Experience with targeting tools, databases, and all-source targeting methodologies.

• Working knowledge of multiple intelligence disciplines, including SIGINT, GEOINT, HUMINT, OSINT, and MASINT.

• Experience generating leads and developing actionable intelligence against strategic-level or national-level targets.

• Experience managing taskings and information flow across multiple organizations.

• Experience making complex analytic and operational judgments under time pressure in high-stress environments.

• Ability to work rotating shifts in a 24/7 operations center, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to deliver clear and concise briefings to senior leadership.

• High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies, national security, international affairs, political science, regional studies, or a related field.

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

• Prior team lead, senior analyst, or watch-floor leadership experience.

• Experience supporting HUMINT operations or the full lifecycle of sponsor operations.

• Experience applying customer or sponsor tradecraft and associated legal and policy guidance to operational decision-making.

• Experience developing targeting support products, operational narratives, or senior decision-support materials.

• Experience supporting domestic or international deployments, exercises, or field-based mission requirements.

• Valid driver’s license and REAL ID, if required for site access or mission travel.

Work Environment:

This role operates in a mission-critical 24/7 environment requiring rotating shift work, analytic rigor, sound judgment, and the ability to perform under pressure. Candidates may support nights, weekends, holidays, surge operations, domestic travel, international travel, exercises, or short-duration deployments depending on mission requirements.

Salary & Benefits

The salary associated with this position ($99,000-$206,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.

Nightwingoffers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.

Nightwing 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, age or any other federally protected class.