Technical Advisor (SETA) – Medical Simulation, Human Factors, and Performance Measurement

SPA; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) seeks a Technical Advisor (SETA) for Medical Simulation, Human Factors, and Performance Measurement to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

The role focuses on leading technical execution, developing metrics for realism, and delivering actionable insights from multimodal simulation data. The candidate will have a strong defense R&D background, an advanced degree, and 9+ years of experience in simulation with healthcare applications, plus an active

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or doctorate in a field such as human factors, engineering, psychology, biomedical engineering, medicine, data science, statistics, computer science, or related.
• 9+ years designing and executing simulation-based studies with human participants and data analysis.
• Experience with complex multimodal datasets and reproducible analytic workflows (ingestion, cleaning, curation, annotation, quality control).
• Expertise in healthcare simulation, human-performance measurement, or medical-training design with clinical/research experience in pre-hospital, trauma, disaster, or critical-care medicine.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Proficiency in online scientific research and using AI tools to accelerate literature review and writing.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Able to work onsite in Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities

• Support DARPA program manager with technical and programmatic input.
• Lead day-to-day technical execution and define metrics for realism and repeatability.
• Develop data pipelines, curation, annotation, and quality assurance processes.
• Build cost and resourcing models for a sustainable capability.
• Apply data-science methods to integrate multimodal simulation data and derive insights.

Skills

Strong communications and presentation

Multimodal data workflows

Data-science fundamentals

Education

Master’s or Doctorate in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)

Job description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth,we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have an immediate need for a Technical Advisor (SETA) – Medical Simulation, Human Factors, and Performance Measurement to provide onsite support out of Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities

The candidate will apply a strong technical background and a proactive attitude in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and will be motivated to learn or already understand DARPA processes, procedures, and culture. Will be passionate about advanced R&D with strong communications and presentation skills. Provide technical and programmatic support to a DARPA Program Manager leading research to establish a realistic, repeatable, large-scale mass-casualty simulation environment that, like a tactical shoot house or flight simulator, can be run repeatedly to train and evaluate medical teams and technologies. The advisor will lead day-to-day technical execution, including defining metrics for scenario realism and repeatability; establishing rigorous methods for collecting human-performance and simulated-outcome data; developing sound data pipelines, curation, annotation, and quality-assurance processes; and building the cost and resourcing model for a sustainable capability. The advisor will apply data-science fundamentals to integrate multimodal simulation data, derive valid and actionable performance insights, and support analytic evaluation of training interventions and emerging medical technologies.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree or doctorate (PhD, MD, DO, or equivalent) in human factors, industrial or systems engineering, cognitive or experimental psychology, biomedical engineering, medical education, medicine, data science, statistics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• 9+ years of experience designing and executing simulation-based studies or exercises with human participants, including data collection and analysis.
• Experience working with complex, multimodal datasets and an understanding of reproducible analytic workflows, including data ingestion, cleaning, curation, annotation, quality control, and preparation of data for analysis or model development.
• Demonstrated expertise in healthcare simulation, human-performance measurement, or medical-training design, with clinical or research experience in pre-hospital, trauma, disaster, or critical-care medicine.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Proficiency in online scientific and technical research and in using artificial intelligence tools to accelerate literature review, analysis, and writing.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Able to work fully onsite in Arlington, VA.

Desired:

• Doctoral training in human factors, experimental psychology, simulation science, data science, statistics, or a related field; or clinical training in emergency, trauma, critical-care, or pre-hospital medicine.
• Experience supporting or managing multidisciplinary advanced research and development programs.
• Experience supporting DARPA, another Department of War science and technology organization, or a comparable federal research organization.
• Experience in cost analysis, business-case development, or lifecycle cost estimation for training systems or simulation facilities.
• Military or operational medicine experience, including combat casualty care, prolonged field care, en route care, or deployment.
• Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) or Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) credential.
• Experience with sensor-based performance capture, data platforms, data engineering, or artificial intelligence-enabled performance analytics, including data-pipeline development, curation and annotation of training or simulation data, and evaluation of analytic outputs for validity, bias, explainability, and operational usability.
• Experience with government research contracting and performer oversight, including statements of work, milestones, and deliverable acceptance.

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Virginia, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $150,000.00/Yr. - USD $180,000.00/Yr.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree or doctorate (PhD, MD, DO, or equivalent) in human factors, industrial or systems engineering, cognitive or experimental psychology, biomedical engineering, medical education, medicine, data science, statistics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• 9+ years of experience designing and executing simulation-based studies or exercises with human participants, including data collection and analysis.
• Experience working with complex, multimodal datasets and an understanding of reproducible analytic workflows, including data ingestion, cleaning, curation, annotation, quality control, and preparation of data for analysis or model development.
• Demonstrated expertise in healthcare simulation, human-performance measurement, or medical-training design, with clinical or research experience in pre-hospital, trauma, disaster, or critical-care medicine.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Proficiency in online scientific and technical research and in using artificial intelligence tools to accelerate literature review, analysis, and writing.
• Active Secret clearance.
• Able to work fully onsite in Arlington, VA.

Desired:

• Doctoral training in human factors, experimental psychology, simulation science, data science, statistics, or a related field; or clinical training in emergency, trauma, critical-care, or pre-hospital medicine.
• Experience supporting or managing multidisciplinary advanced research and development programs.
• Experience supporting DARPA, another Department of War science and technology organization, or a comparable federal research organization.
• Experience in cost analysis, business-case development, or lifecycle cost estimation for training systems or simulation facilities.
• Military or operational medicine experience, including combat casualty care, prolonged fieldcare, en route care, or deployment.
• Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) or Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) credential.
• Experience with sensor-based performance capture, data platforms, data engineering, or artificial intelligence-enabled performance analytics, including data-pipeline development, curation and annotation of training or simulation data, and evaluation of analytic outputs for validity, bias, explainability, and operational usability.
• Experience with government research contracting and performer oversight, including statements of work, milestones, and deliverable acceptance.

Responsibilities

The candidate will apply a strong technical background and a proactive attitude in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and will be motivated to learn or already understand DARPA processes, procedures, and culture. Will be passionate about advanced R&D with strong communications and presentation skills. Provide technical and programmatic support to a DARPA Program Manager leading research to establish a realistic, repeatable, large-scale mass-casualty simulation environment that, like a tactical shoot house or flight simulator, can be run repeatedly to train and evaluate medical teams and technologies. The advisor will lead day-to-day technical execution, including defining metrics for scenario realism and repeatability; establishing rigorous methods for collecting human-performance and simulated-outcome data; developing sound data pipelines, curation, annotation, and quality-assurance processes; and building the cost and resourcing model for a sustainable capability. The advisor will apply data-science fundamentals to integrate multimodal simulation data, derive valid and actionable performance insights, and support analytic evaluation of training interventions and emerging medical technologies.