Cyberspace Operations Planner

Leidos•Fort Meade, MD

6d•$87,100 - $157,450•Onsite

About The Position

Leidos seeks qualified Cyberspace Operational Planners to support Department of Defense Joint Planning processes underpinning United States Cyber Command operations. The role supports on-site contract work for USCYBERCOM J3 (Operations), the Cyber National Mission Force, and Joint Task Force-Ares. Planners provide expertise across cyberspace operational planning, targeting, intelligence integration, capability development, and coordination with internal and external partners. This posting covers multiple opportunities and experience levels; opportunity level and compensation will be matched to the candidate's experience.

Requirements

Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and polygraph.
Four to eight or more years of recent (since 2010) experience as a cyberspace operations planner or a combination of planner and other cyberspace operations support roles. The posting describes experience waivers for time spent on a Combat Mission Team or in an offensive cyberspace operations planner role within a Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber command.
Alternatively, four years of recent (since 2013) work experience in offensive cyberspace capabilities development. The posting describes experience waivers for time spent on a Combat Mission Team; this experience may be concurrent with cyberspace operations planning or other support work.
Familiarity with military operations, including planning, approval, and execution phases.
Intimate familiarity with applicable Joint Publications, such as 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.
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 support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, including documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
Demonstrated proficiency in a fast-paced collaborative environment, including proactive multitasking and meeting short deadlines.
Ability to work across Department of Defense and Intelligence Community agencies to support organizational goals.

Nice To Haves

BA/BS, 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.
Demonstrated experience incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Experience with space-enabled cyberspace operations.
Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II (JPME II) graduate status or civilian equivalency.
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.
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 for cyberspace operations, following 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.
Engage in 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, attack methods, adversary techniques, and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space.
Develop and execute programs for assessing cyberspace operations and validating operational performance characteristics.
Review, approve, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for research, development, or acquisition of cyber capabilities.
Develop and maintain deliberate and 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 and relationships associated with full-spectrum cyberspace operations.
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, and ideas confidently and clearly through verbal, written, or visual means.