Military Operations Specialist

RED CAT HOLDINGS•San Diego, CA

7d•$80,960 - $121,440

About The Position

The Military Operations Specialist is an entry-level position in Blue Ops INC’s Operations department. Under the direct supervision of a Senior Military Operations Specialist or equivalent senior operations personnel, this role supports the operation, monitoring, and testing of Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) systems. The specialist assists with mission execution, data collection, training support, and safety compliance while developing foundational skills in unmanned maritime systems. The role supports research and development, testing events, operational demonstrations, mission planning, and coordination with government customers and mission partners. It involves assisting with USV setup and checks, monitoring command-and-control interfaces and telemetry during live operations, observing and documenting system performance, and escalating anomalies to senior personnel. The specialist also helps execute test plans, organize mission data and documentation, prepare reports and training materials, and support fielding events and customer-site activities. The position works closely with demonstration and RDT&E specialists, engineering and autonomy teams, payload and sensor integrators, and logistics and field-support personnel. Work may take place in offices, shipyards, test ranges, and outdoor maritime settings, and may involve travel up to 50% of the time. Occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours may be required. A post-offer background check is required. The role requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residence for access to ITAR/EAR-controlled work; candidates must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, maritime operations, defense systems, robotics, or a related technical field; equivalent military or vocational training will be considered.
Two years of experience in defense, maritime, unmanned systems, or a related technical field; internship or academic project experience will be considered.
Basic understanding of maritime operations, vessel systems, or autonomous vehicle concepts, and willingness to learn command-and-control software; training is provided.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data recording, field documentation, and operational logging.
Clear written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to read and follow technical documentation, system specifications, and operational procedures.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain a security clearance.
Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence for ITAR/EAR-restricted work and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.
Ability to work in office and operational environments, including shipyards, test ranges, and outdoor maritime settings.
Ability to stand, walk, and move around operational environments for extended periods.
May occasionally need to lift or move equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.
Ability to travel up to 50% of the time to testing sites, demonstration events, and operational deployments.
Ability to work in varying conditions, including heat, humidity, wind, and marine environments.
Ability to operate computer systems, mission-control interfaces, and standard office equipment for extended periods.
Occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours may be required for mission operations, testing events, or customer demonstrations.
Must successfully complete a post-offer background check.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to mission-planning or telemetry tools.
Academic or hands-on exposure to USVs, UAS, autonomous vehicles, or maritime robotics.
Familiarity with maritime operations, navigation, and environmental considerations affecting vessel operations.
Exposure to defense research, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs through coursework, internship, or prior employment.
Prior military, maritime, or defense-industry experience, including service in a maritime, aviation, or unmanned-systems role.
Active security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist senior staff with product and mission-supporting programs, including research and development, testing, and operational demonstrations.
Track program progress, document operational observations, and flag schedule or technical concerns to senior personnel.
Collaborate and share knowledge across operational and engineering teams; apply corrective actions and process improvements under senior guidance.
Coordinate with government customers and mission partners to support communication and information flow under senior oversight.
Support development of mission plans for tests, demonstrations, and operational deployments, including environmental factors, route planning, and contingency procedures.
Prepare operational documentation, including CONOPS drafts, test-plan support materials, and mission briefs.
Participate in pre-mission planning, mission-execution observation, and post-mission debriefs.
Assist with USV setup, pre-mission checks, and post-mission breakdown under senior supervision.
Monitor vessel command-and-control interfaces and telemetry displays during live operations under supervision.
Observe and log navigation status, propulsion performance, payload sensor outputs, and communications-link health; maintain maritime situational awareness.
Recognize and promptly escalate anomalies or unexpected system behavior to senior personnel.
Monitor vehicle status, system behavior, and the operating environment during active missions alongside experienced operators.
Assist with alerts or unexpected vessel behavior and support contingency procedures to maintain mission continuity and platform safety.
Document and communicate operational issues to senior operations personnel and engineering staff.
Assist in executing operational test plans in accordance with approved procedures and direct oversight.
Record operational observations, system performance data, test results, events, discrepancies, and technical issues to support validation and engineering debugging.
Provide structured, factual field observations and maintain test documentation, field logs, and data records for senior review.
Collect and organize mission data; support senior analysts in interpreting performance metrics, sensor outputs, and operational outcomes.
Help prepare supervised mission reports documenting findings, lessons learned, and recommendations; maintain organized operational data sets.
Assist senior training staff with preparation and delivery of operator and end-user training for government and partner personnel.
Maintain training-material libraries, including operator manuals, instructional guides, and quick-reference cards.
Support fielding events, exercises, and operational demonstrations through logistics coordination and setup assistance.
Provide administrative and logistical support for training events at customer sites and government installations as required.
Follow applicable maritime regulations, government policies, company operational standards, safety procedures, and risk-mitigation measures.
Participate in operational risk assessments and mission safety planning under senior supervision, and promote safe operating practices.
Coordinate with demonstration/RDT&E specialists, engineering and autonomy teams, payload and sensor integrators, and logistics and field-support personnel.
Seek mentorship from senior specialists and participate in knowledge-sharing activities across program and operational teams.