Mission Planning Lead

SAIC•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Mission Planning Lead (MPL) to join the Multi-Service Advanced Capabilities Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) Program Team. The role leads test planning and execution from the initiation of MACH-TB Lifecycle 3 through launch and post-mission reviews. It is pivotal to executing test missions efficiently and effectively in alignment with program and stakeholder requirements. The Mission Planning Lead oversees mission activities, plans tests to meet program and external stakeholder experiment requirements, and ensures test designs fulfill mission objectives. The role coordinates mission planning, execution, and readiness activities with program teams, range support elements, test round providers, and stakeholders. It also contributes to mission architecture and configuration across classification domains. The position develops test plans, readiness review materials, checklists, communication plans, launch constraints documents, executive review packages, mission calendars, operational schedules, and milestone reviews. The lead presents briefings and status updates to senior leadership and program elements, supports test execution estimates for the Financial Team as needed, and coordinates range support and travel for planning, site visits, and test execution. Frequent operational travel of 25–50% is required.

Requirements

Active Secret clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field such as Systems Engineering, Aerospace, or Operations Management, or equivalent experience, and at least 18 years of experience; alternatively, a master’s degree and at least 16 years of experience. Additional experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
Ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams in organizationally complex environments.
Strong organizational and multitasking skills, including significant experience leading concurrent mission operations.
Availability to travel frequently for operational support, 25–50%.
Experience with hypersonic flight tests, missile test programs, or similar testbed environments.
Familiarity with Department of Defense standards and practices and acquisition processes for test and evaluation.
Experience with mission architecture, test configuration management, and cross-classification environments.
Working knowledge of test range planning and coordination.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to technical and non-technical audiences.
Self-motivated problem-solving ability and adaptability to expected and unexpected challenges.
Proficiency in facilitating technical working groups and readiness reviews.
Ability to remain calm and resourceful under pressure in high-stakes scenarios.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading large teams and multitasking across simultaneous missions is described as highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead mission activities from inception through launch and post-mission reviews, ensuring timely, high-quality deliverables and mission success.
Plan MACH-TB missions to meet program and external stakeholder experiment requirements.
Understand mission objectives and ensure tests are designed to meet them.
Understand overall mission strategy and employ system capabilities across classification domains.
Help oversee mission planning and execution efforts, acting as a liaison with the Mission Director/Test Chief Engineer.
Organize and lead Mission Planning, Execution, and Readiness Review Working Groups.
Prepare and present milestone reviews.
Coordinate with test round providers, range support elements, and broader program teams to align mission objectives.
Create and present Test Plans, Mission Readiness Review artifacts, execution checklists, communication plans, launch constraints documents, executive review packages, and mission calendars.
Develop operational schedules and milestone reviews, and obtain Test Plan approval through readiness review processes.
Provide input into test execution estimates to support the Financial Team as needed.
Contribute to test architecture and configuration meetings across classification domains to ensure mission objectives are met.
Provide professional briefings to senior leadership during working groups and executive reviews.
Deliver status updates to program elements and leadership.
Act as a liaison for range support and travel to facilitate meetings, planning efforts, site visits, and test execution activities.