Senior Tactical Aviation Operations Lead

MANTECH

7d•$192,600 - $353,500•Remote

About The Position

MANTECH is seeking a career- and customer-oriented Senior Tactical Aviation Operations Lead for a future opportunity supporting a Department of Defense Modeling & Simulation initiative. The role provides operational subject matter expertise to bridge operational requirements with software systems and guide development so that digital simulation environments reflect modern combat scenarios. The position is fully remote, with CONUS travel as needed, and is based in support of work associated with Lexington Park, Maryland. The successful candidate will advise government stakeholders as a Trusted Operational Advisor, using military experience to shape simulation capabilities for tactical relevance and mission effectiveness. The position also leads operational subject matter expert teams and stakeholder engagements across the contract lifecycle. The projected compensation range is $192,600 to $353,500. Final compensation may depend on factors including contract wage determinations, relevant experience, skills, location, education, certifications, and federal contract labor categories. Benefits may include health and life insurance, paid time off, holiday pay, short- and long-term disability, retirement and savings, learning and development opportunities, wellness programs, and optional benefit elections, depending on position. An active Top Secret clearance with current SCI eligibility is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
12 or more years of experience supporting military tactical operations and tactical aviation system development.
Prior military service as a commissioned officer, with demonstrated expertise in operational employment of tactical aviation platforms.
Previously qualified strike lead.
Experience with 5th Generation fighter tactical employment.
Developmental or Operational Test experience in a tactical aviation platform.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and solving mission-critical problems in operational or technical environments.
Ability to present complex tactical trade-offs and solution recommendations to senior government stakeholders.
Active Top Secret clearance with current SCI eligibility.
Ability to remain stationary approximately 50% of the time; occasionally move through office spaces to access equipment and files or interact with coworkers; enter and exit simulator cockpits and fly simulated missions; and communicate technical information effectively, including in presentations.
Availability for CONUS travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience supporting system development and testing of defense technologies.
Experience supporting Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) or distributed battlespace modeling initiatives such as NCTE or DMON.
Familiarity with incorporating operational SME feedback into Agile software development sprints and DevSecOps pipelines.
Weapons School or Test Pilot School graduate.

Responsibilities

Provide expertise in tactical employment of military systems, including USN and USAF aviation platforms, advanced weapons systems, electronic warfare, and command and control, to inform technical design and development priorities.
Evaluate Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions and recommend tools that balance delivery schedules, fidelity, and mission alignment.
Lead requirements development and refinement to ensure simulation systems support validated operational use cases and mission-critical outcomes.
Promote Agile development practices and digital engineering workflows within operational testing and evaluation processes.
Design and oversee realistic, high-fidelity tactical scenarios for synthetic training and evaluation environments.
Lead test and evaluation activities, including flight and ground event support, and interpret simulation and stimulation system performance.
Direct development and delivery of user-focused training materials for operational personnel using simulation capabilities.
Lead operational subject matter expert teams to resolve complex issues, align work with operational goals, and manage task execution across the contract lifecycle.
Lead engagements with key program stakeholders.
Travel within the continental United States as needed.