Cost Analyst
About The Position
MITRE is seeking an intermediate cost analyst for its Acquisition Affordability and Business Analytics Department. The role supports multiple projects addressing sponsors’ economic and financial challenges and contributes to cost, economic, business, and data science analyses. Work may include life-cycle cost estimating, tradeoff and affordability analyses, decision analysis, portfolio investment analysis, economic analysis and modeling, business case analysis, modeling and simulation, advanced statistical techniques, and constrained optimization. The position is project-oriented and involves engaging sponsors to scope and prioritize tasks, gathering and analyzing large datasets, conducting market and policy research, and considering relevant regulations, budgets, and political conditions. The analyst may manage projects, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, communicate with technical and non-technical audiences, and work directly with sponsors. Multiple projects may be active at once, often with limited structure or supervision and a need for adaptive approaches to ambiguous problems. The position requires at least four days per week onsite and an active Top Secret U.S. government security clearance. Candidates must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for a security clearance.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Arts or Science in economics, engineering, mathematics, statistics, operations research, data science/analytics, quantitative sciences, a related field, or equivalent knowledge and skills with related experience.
- Proficiency in statistical methods, including regression, forecasting, and hypothesis testing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Active Top Secret U.S. government-issued security clearance.
- U.S. citizenship, as required for security-clearance eligibility.
- Ability to work onsite a minimum of four days per week.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with software engineering best practices and agile DevOps software development processes.
- Experience with econometric/economic modeling and analysis.
- Working knowledge of federal budgeting, spending mechanics, processes, and data.
- Knowledge of Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) and OMB Circular A-11.
- Familiarity with acquisition reform and PPBE reform initiatives.
- Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations.
- Familiarity with Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC).
- Experience with federal spending data, including USASpending.gov, SAM.gov, or FPDS-NG.
- Experience in investment modeling and analysis, cost-benefit analysis, large-dataset analysis, policy and investment analysis, economic analysis supporting regulatory policy, pre- and post-implementation analysis, forecasting, and applied research.
- Source selection cost evaluation experience.
- Expertise with parametric cost-estimating tools such as PRICE or SEER SEM.
- ICEAA or Defense Acquisition Workforce Initiative Act (DAWIA) certification.
- Knowledge of federal government budget and spending rules, processes, and procedures.
- Demonstrated interest in public service and advancing mission-focused outcomes.
- Strong foundation in Python and SQL and familiarity with modern data-processing tools or frameworks such as Pandas, Spark, Databricks, or Airflow.
Responsibilities
- Develop models and perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of the cost, economic, and financial impacts of investments, risk mitigation strategies, options, and other government actions.
- Collect and analyze financial, cost, and economic data.
- Develop and/or evaluate program technical and programmatic baselines.
- Develop cost-estimating techniques for development, production, and operating and support cost elements.
- Develop independent or program life-cycle cost estimates and conduct accompanying cost, schedule risk, uncertainty, and sensitivity analyses.
- Develop cost estimates for source selection, including Independent Government Cost Estimates.
- Conduct cost-related studies and analyses, including rate-reasonableness analyses.
- Develop investment economic and decision analyses, including business case, cost/benefit, alternatives, and portfolio analyses.
- Develop strategic business and financial analyses, including economic studies, cost-recovery strategies, budget development and planning, and affordability analyses.
- Assess the credibility of government and industry cost estimates using benchmark guidance such as the GAO 12 steps and Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge.
- Assess the credibility of government and industry cost-savings initiative data.
- Conduct surveys and use sampling techniques.
- Research fields including politics, national security, healthcare, education, and energy.
- Use historical data and analyze market trends.
- Identify information sources and gather quantitative and qualitative data to support decisions for MITRE and its government sponsors.
- Apply exploratory data analysis, time-series analysis, linear regression, and other analytical skills.
- Draw conclusions and clearly communicate findings in writing and verbally.
- Assist in developing data visualization products to present complex datasets.
- Translate unstructured data and nontraditional information sources into business insights.
- Perform data cleaning, visualization, and analysis using statistical and graphics software such as R, Stata, and Excel.
- Engage sponsors to scope and prioritize tasks, and collaborate across projects and with multidisciplinary teams.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
