Cyberspace Operations Planner, Senior

Leidos•Fort Meade, MD

6d•$87,100 - $157,450•Onsite

About The Position

Leidos seeks highly qualified Cyberspace Operational Planners to support Department of Defense Joint Planning processes that underpin United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) operations. The role supports on-site contract work for USCYBERCOM J3 (Operations), the Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and Joint Task Force-Ares (JTF-ARES), contributing to cyberspace operational planning in a collaborative environment. The planner develops and staffs joint plans and orders, leads targeting and planning activities, integrates cyberspace capabilities, and coordinates with internal and external partners. The position also supports crisis and current operations, assesses cyber capabilities and operational performance, integrates intelligence planning, and applies relevant laws, policies, and guidance to operational objectives. The posting covers multiple opportunities with varying experience levels; opportunity level and compensation are matched to the candidate’s experience.

Requirements

Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and polygraph.
BA/BS degree or higher in a STEM field, National Security Studies, or a field supporting operational art and science, or ability to complete the degree within one year of hire.
Four to eight or more years of recent (since 2010) experience as a cyberspace operations planner or combined experience in a planner role and other cyberspace operations support roles. The posting describes experience waivers for time spent on a Combat Mission Team and in an offensive cyberspace operations planner role within a Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber command.
Alternatively, four years of recent (since 2013) experience in offensive cyberspace capabilities development; the posting describes waivers for time spent on a Combat Mission Team and allows this experience to be concurrent with cyberspace operations planning or other support experience.
Familiarity with military operations, including planning, approval, and execution phases.
Intimate familiarity with applicable Joint Publications, including JP 3-12 Joint Cyberspace Operations and JP 5-0 Joint Operational Planning.
Formal training as a Cyber Operational Planner within the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community.
Broad knowledge of Blue-space cyber capabilities and understanding of available cyber infrastructure or platforms for conducting Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO).
Knowledge of the range of cyberspace operations and their underlying intelligence support needs, topics, and focus areas.
Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals and concepts, terminology, and operations across communications media, including computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, and wireless.
Ability to produce timely, accurate, relevant analytical materials, including documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
Proficiency in a fast-paced collaborative environment, with the ability to proactively multitask and meet short deadlines.
Ability to work across Department of Defense and Intelligence Community agencies to support organizational goals.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher in a STEM field, National Security Studies, or a field supporting operational art and science.
Intimate familiarity with USCYBERCOM organizational structure and mission.
Prior experience supporting Joint operations across multiple warfighting domains.
Experience incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into operations to improve efficiency and operational outcomes.
Experience with Space-enabled cyberspace operations.
Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II (JPME II) graduate, or civilian equivalent.
Formal training in Cyber Warfare and Joint Operations.
Completion of service-specific or Joint Cyberspace Operational Planning courses, such as the Army Cyberspace Operations Planners Course or Joint Cyberspace Operations Planners Course.
Familiarity with data science and its applicability to cyberspace operations.
Familiarity with Microsoft Power BI data visualization software.
Desired certifications: DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification, such as CCNA Security, CompTIA CySA+, CompTIA Security+ CE, GICSP, GSEC, or SSCP.

Responsibilities

Provide subject matter expertise in Joint plans development and staffing processes to enable cyberspace operations under USCYBERCOM planning guidance and applicable Joint publications.
Lead targeting selection, validation, and synchronization, and enable integration during cyber warfare activities.
Draft and staff foundational planning documents, including Operational Plans (OPLANS), Operational Orders (OPORDs), and Fragmentary Orders (FRAGOs).
Lead and support Joint Operational Planning Groups and Teams (OPG/OPT), and develop and integrate cyberspace capabilities into plans.
Develop concepts of support and courses of action; integrate command and external capabilities; and coordinate and document comprehensive plans.
Support projects, Crisis Action Teams, and current operations activities, and provide situational awareness to OPTs.
Develop and review cyberspace operations plans and guidance for integration into broader planning activities, ensuring execution and resource-allocation decisions align with organizational objectives.
Apply knowledge of cyber threats, adversary attack methods and techniques, and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space.
Develop and execute programs to assess cyberspace operations and validate 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 cyberspace operations crisis plans.
Analyze and assess internal and external partner cyberspace operations capabilities and tools.
Transition operational planning efforts to current operations.
Navigate organizational structures related to full-spectrum cyberspace operations, including the functions, responsibilities, and interrelationships of internal elements.
Integrate and synchronize intelligence planning activities with operational planning timelines.
Conduct long-range strategic planning with internal and external partners in cyber activities.
Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to organizational cyber objectives.
Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas confidently and clearly through verbal, written, and/or visual means.