Operations Research Analyst & Planner

Intrepid Solutions and Services • Shaw AFB, SC

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Darkblade Systems, a CIS Secure company, is seeking an Operations Research Analyst and Planner to provide Group 1–3 counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) subject matter expertise, review, assessments, and recommendations to USAFCENT A3 and A2. The role coordinates overlapping support and shared equities with USARCENT, other Service Component staffs, and USCENTCOM Combatant Command staffs on CUAS capabilities to detect, track, identify, and defeat Group 1–3 UAS threats within the USCENTCOM area of operations.

The position supports the USAFCENT CUAS cell and its Mobile Training Team, provides theater-wide capability accountability and readiness reporting, and advises on emerging operational capabilities, capability gaps, requirements, and prioritized employment. The Planner supports synchronization and integration of Army Senior Component Command capabilities, represents USAFCENT CUAS equities in command and department-level forums, and provides leadership with assessments and recommendations for mitigating emerging threats.

The role also reviews CUAS urgent material releases and rapid acquisition capabilities, supports procurement and placement planning, maintains briefing materials and data repositories, drafts military orders and supporting documents, reviews CUAS publications, and recommends sensor and system packages for particular missions or locations. The position is 100% onsite unless otherwise discussed and approved by the Program Manager and customer, with a standard eight-hour Monday–Friday schedule. Routine or extended travel may be required with minimal notice, including OCONUS travel.

Requirements

• Active and current Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required upon application for initial consideration; clearance sponsorship, upgrade, and reactivation are not offered outside the SCI nomination.
• Bachelor's degree required; four additional years of experience may be considered as a substitution for the formal degree.
• Ten or more years of relevant experience, including cumulative experience supporting Air Defense and Group 1–3 CUAS activities and operations.
• At least two years of Air Defense or CUAS planning experience in a Service Component Command, Combatant Command, or Joint Staff organization.
• Experience with digital mission command systems, including AMDWS, FAAD C2, and ADSI.
• Familiarity with Link-16 and associated equipment and processes.
• Experience staffing the integration of CUAS with Air Defense systems and processes.
• Proficiency with MS Office products and NIPR/SIPRNet/JWICS.
• Working knowledge of the Military Orders process and effective staffing at Battalion, Brigade, and Service Component Command levels.
• Ability to work onsite on a standard eight-hour Monday–Friday schedule unless otherwise discussed and approved by the Program Manager and customer.
• Ability to undertake routine and/or extended travel with minimal notice, including OCONUS travel.

Nice To Haves

• Active TS/SCI clearance preferred.
• Retired or honorably discharged O-4 or higher Staff Officer, with Air Defense Artillery and/or Fires specialization.
• Prior military experience working within USARCENT, USAFCENT, and/or USCENTCOM Command Headquarters.
• Experience with Combined Arms Services and/or Combined and Joint Fires and CUAS operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide planning input to emergent tasks in the USAFCENT CUAS cell, including support to the USAFCENT CUAS Mobile Training Team and coordination on shared equities or overlapping missions with other in-theater CUAS teams and Red/Blue operational support capabilities.
• Coordinate closely with USARCENT and USCENTCOM on CUAS matters.
• Maintain daily accountability and reporting of blue force CUAS capability across the theater, particularly USAFCENT equities.
• Inform stakeholders about emerging operational capabilities and plan prioritized employment of capabilities within the theater.
• Identify current capability gaps and requirements to mitigate emerging threat profiles.
• Synchronize Army Senior Component Command capabilities across the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility and ensure cross-component integration.
• Represent USAFCENT CUAS equities in Combatant Command and Department-level information exchanges, including B2C2WG forums and General Officer-level briefings.
• Maintain understanding of USARCENT, USNAVCENT, USSOCCENT, CJTF-OIR, and other Joint CUAS equities to support deconfliction and coordination.
• Communicate CUAS platform readiness to Service Component and Combatant Command leadership and staff.
• Review, analyze, and recommend actions on CUAS User Acceptance Urgent Material Releases and the application of rapid acquisition capabilities in theater.
• Provide Higher Headquarters with assessments and recommendations on applying CUAS assets against emerging threat profiles.
• Support system procurement and placement using knowledge of CUAS system employment, layered defense techniques, and technical limitations.
• Continuously update recurring briefing materials with emerging technological and operational updates.
• Coordinate with enterprise action officers and planners to ensure DOTMLPF-P integration for current and emerging capabilities.
• Maintain CUAS data repositories and documents and propose refinements to requirements in coordination with Service directorates and the Command team.
• Draft military orders, briefings, and supporting documents using MS Office applications and other software platforms.
• Review CUAS operations publications and recommend concurrence or revisions.
• Recommend optimal sensor and system packages for mission sets or deployment locations based on intelligence, operational assessments, site surveys, and available sensor expertise.
• Review CUAS events and provide technical assessments to the CUAS Coordination Team.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Medical insurance
• Health Savings Account option
• Flexible Spending Account
• Vision insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Ancillary offerings including Hospital Indemnity, Accident, Critical Illness, and Pet Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday pay

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior