SSC SN - Senior Acquisition Business Analyst (Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA)
About The Position
IDS is currently seeking a Senior Acquisition Subject Matter Expert (SME) Business Analyst. The Senior Acquisition Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as a Principal Executive Liaison within the Program Acquisition Executive (PAE) office, supporting the successful delivery of space systems requirements across the Space Sensing mission area. Based onsite in El Segundo, CA, this role operates in close partnership with senior leadership, providing high-level coordination, informed judgment, and strategic insight across the acquisition lifecycle. The Senior Acquisition SME focuses on assessing acquisition package maturity, ensuring programs, projects, and products are positioned for successful execution, and enabling leadership to make well-informed, timely decisions. The role emphasizes discernment, integration, and quality assurance, helping translate mission intent into executable, policy-compliant acquisition approaches that deliver capability on schedule and at a high level of quality. In this role, you will act as a trusted acquisition advisor and integrator, enabling senior Space Force leadership to deliver high-quality programs and capabilities.
Requirements
- This position requires a minimum of twenty (20) years of government acquisition, finance or financial management, program management or related experience within a DoD organization with senior-level program and portfolio exposure
- Deep understanding of ACAT IIII program structures, milestone decision processes, and lifecycle progression (pre-Milestone A through Milestone C)
- Proven ability to evaluate acquisition strategies, documentation readiness, and execution risk rather than solely developing artifacts
- Strong working knowledge of DoD contracting, budgeting, and financial management principles
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently in high-visibility, time-sensitive environments and advise senior leaders
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive briefings and strategic messaging
- Strong analytical judgment and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in identifying execution risks and recommending corrective actions
- This position requires a minimum of a Master's degree in business management, engineering, computer science, mathematics, economics or other related discipline
- Must be able to sit, type, hear, see, and speak for extended periods of time
- Must consistently work and type on a computer for prolonged periods of time
- Must be able to communicate accurate information and ideas so others will understand
- Must be able to lift/carry at least 15 lbs
- Applicants selected for employment will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet additional eligibility requirements for access to classified information or materials
- U.S. citizenship is required
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience serving as a senior advisor or evaluator on at least one source selection is preferred
- Familiarity with Confluence and JIRA in program or portfolio management environments is preferred
- Certifications such as DAWIA/APDP Program Management Level III, PMP, and/or PgMP is preferred
- Prior Pentagon or major headquarters experience is preferred
- Working understanding of Congressional Defense Committees and their influence on acquisition decision-making is preferred
Responsibilities
- Supporting senior SSC and Space Force leadership with strategic acquisition insight, program execution oversight, and decision support
- Serving as senior liaison between the PAE office, program offices, technical teams, contracting, financial management, and industry partners
- Assessing the maturity, completeness, and readiness of acquisition strategies, plans, and supporting documentation for leadership review and approval
- Providing informed recommendations on program structure, execution approach, and acquisition timing
- Identifying execution risks, misalignment, or gaps across programs and recommending actionable mitigation strategies
- Advising on software-intensive and classified space acquisition efforts, including ACAT-like programs
- Supporting leadership preparation for Defense Acquisition Boards, and milestone decisions
- Reviewing and advising on acquisition elements such as AoAs, ASPs, ASDs, J&As, RFPs, SOWs, CDRLs, and incentive structures, with emphasis on coherence and executability
- Contributing to executive-level briefings, decision papers, and strategic communications
- Performing high-level business case, schedule, and risk assessments to inform leadership decisions
- Providing senior advisory support during technical evaluations
Benefits
- IDS offers a robust benefits package including employer paid health, dental, vision, disability, AD&D and life insurance plans for eligible employees
- IDS also offers a variety of elective plans to eligible employees including flexible spending accounts, voluntary life insurance and supplemental insurance plans
- Benefits become effective the first of the month following the start date of employment unless starting on the 1st of the month, in which case benefits are effective immediately upon the eligible employees start date
- IDS offers eligible employees eleven (11) paid holidays, generous PTO accruals starting at three (3) weeks per year, as well as a 401(k) safe harbor contribution upon eligibility
- IDS also offers generous employee referral bonuses
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
