Senior F-35 Lightning Sustainment Operations SME

Paradigm Max Q LLC

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Paradigm Max Q is seeking a highly experienced Senior F-35 Lightning Sustainment Operations SME to support the F-35 JPO leading cross-enterprise readiness initiatives and operational integration efforts across the F-35 fleet. This position requires a seasoned professional with direct F-35 operational experience and demonstrated success executing senior staff-level work within DoD headquarters environments (e.g., Pentagon, Service Headquarters, Joint Staff, OSD, or similar).
This role focuses on fleet readiness execution-driving enterprise alignment, translating operational priorities into measurable sustainment outcomes, and supporting government decision-making with clear, data-informed recommendations. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in high-visibility environments and coordinating across multiple organizations to deliver readiness improvements at scale.

Requirements

• 12+ years supporting DoD aviation operations, readiness, sustainment, or enterprise integration roles
• Direct F-35 operational experience (pilot, maintainer, squadron operations, operational staff, or comparable experience)
• Demonstrated experience within a Command Action Operations Center (CAOC)
• Demonstrated experience supporting senior staff-level execution (Pentagon, Service Headquarters, Joint Staff, OSD, MAJCOM, or equivalent)
• Proven ability to lead readiness integration across complex organizations and influence outcomes through coordination and execution
• Experience translating operational readiness priorities into actionable sustainment initiatives across supply, maintenance, and engineering communities
• Strong understanding of readiness drivers, aviation sustainment enterprise execution, and operational impacts
• Ability to evaluate readiness performance and communicate trends, risk areas, and recommendations to senior leaders
• Strong ability to decompose enterprise readiness challenges into coordinated actions, suspense timelines, and measurable outcomes
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Must be a U.S. citizen with an active Secret clearance (required)

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree (preferred)
• DAU Life Cycle Logistics / Program Management
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• TS/SCI eligibility (preferred depending on work location and access requirements)

Responsibilities

• Lead readiness and operations improvement projects in support of enterprise fleet readiness priorities, aligning operational requirements with sustainment execution across the F-35 ecosystem.
• Develop and staff senior leader products including readiness briefs, decision memoranda, issue papers, read-aheads, and staffing packages for government leadership.
• Drive cross-functional coordination across JPO, Services, MAJCOMs/Fleet commands, operational units, depots, OEMs, and sustainment partners to improve readiness performance and execution timelines.
• Analyze readiness drivers and degraders impacting availability and mission capability and translate findings into prioritized actions and decision support.
• Support fleet readiness governance forums by developing agendas, capturing outcomes, tracking actions, and ensuring follow-through execution across stakeholders.
• Identify, assess, and communicate enterprise constraints (supply, maintenance, engineering, training, manpower) that impact fleet readiness outcomes.
• Support development of integrated readiness recovery strategies and coordinated mitigation approaches for high-impact readiness degraders.
• Coordinate government taskers and suspense-driven staffing actions, ensuring timely responses and high-quality products suitable for senior leader review.
• Provide stakeholder engagement support, including meeting preparation, capture of key decisions, and development of executive communication products.
• Support periodic assessments, special studies, and government-directed readiness projects as required.

Benefits

• Paradigm Max Q provides eligible employees with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; short-term and long-term disability coverage; a 401(k)-retirement plan; paid time off (PTO) for vacation; and company paid holidays.
• The benefits package also includes reimbursement for a Planet Fitness Black Card membership.

What This Job Offers

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