Senior Acquisition Subject Matter Expert (SME)
About The Position
Senior Acquisition Subject Matter Expert (SME) LOCATION: El Segundo, CA JOB STATUS: Full-time SALARY: 180,000 to 230,000 CLEARANCE: TS/SCI TRAVEL: 10%-15% Astrion is seeking a highly skilled Acquisition Subject Matter Expert to be responsible for assisting the government Flag level Director/Deputy Director with Acquisition Management and Strategic Planning Support in the Space Systems Command Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO, SSC/BZ).Overview 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 on site 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.
Requirements
- Minimum of 20 years of experience in DoD or comparable acquisition environments, with demonstrated senior-level program and portfolio exposure
- Deep understanding of ACAT I–III 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
- Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or a related field
- Active TS clearance, SCI-eligible, with an in-scope background investigation (T5 or SSBI)
- S. citizenship required
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in relevant science, engineering, or systems discipline
- Prior experience serving as a senior advisor or evaluator on at least one source selection
- Familiarity with Confluence and JIRA in program or portfolio management environments
- Certifications such as DAWIA/APDP Program Management Level III, PMP, and/or PgMP
- Prior Pentagon or major headquarters experience
- Working understanding of Congressional Defense Committees and their influence on acquisition decision-making
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
