Senior Technical Advisor for Space-Enabled Missile Defense

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Huntsville, AL

10h

About The Position

The Senior Technical Advisor for Space-Enabled Missile Defense provides technical leadership, independent assessment, and strategic guidance across efforts that use space-based and space-enabled capabilities to address missile defense challenges. The role is based in Huntsville, Alabama, with the primary work location in the Space Based Interceptor program office supporting U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command. The APL position is within the Strategic Missile Defense Program Area in the Homeland Defense Mission Area at JHU APL. Working closely with program leadership and Government sponsors, the advisor defines technical approaches, assesses system designs and trade spaces, guides integration activities, and helps deliver technically rigorous, mission-relevant products. The work draws on expertise in missile defense, space systems, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, test and evaluation, and related fields to advance Space Based Interceptor and other space-enabled missile defense capabilities. The position also supports technical roadmaps and investment strategies, helps identify and mitigate technical risks, and mentors technical staff. The advisor applies APL processes for quality, configuration management, risk management, and technical-product development in alignment with APL’s Quality Management System. The role requires an active Secret clearance and the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI access, U.S. citizenship, travel as needed, and residence in or relocation to Huntsville, Alabama.

Requirements

M.S. in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, space systems, aerospace engineering, or another applicable technical discipline.
15 or more years of relevant experience in missile defense, space systems, space-based sensing, missile warning, tracking, discrimination, command and control, battle management, modeling and simulation, systems engineering, test and evaluation, or related national security missions.
Strong working knowledge of the Missile Defense System and the role of space-enabled capabilities within it.
Demonstrated experience developing, evaluating, or integrating complex system-level solutions under evolving mission, technical, cost, and schedule constraints.
Experience leading or making substantial technical contributions to multidisciplinary efforts involving systems engineering, software, algorithms, modeling and simulation, operations analysis, and/or test and evaluation.
Demonstrated experience working directly with Government sponsors and mission stakeholders to understand technical priorities, communicate findings, and deliver high-quality solutions responsive to mission needs.
Experience conducting or supporting technical reviews, architecture trades, requirements development, mission analyses, and/or system-performance assessments.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Experience mentoring, advising, or technically guiding engineers, scientists, and other technical staff.
Willingness and ability to travel to Government, military, contractor, and partner locations as needed.
Active Secret security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility to access classified information.
Willingness to reside in or relocate to Huntsville, Alabama.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or another applicable technical discipline.
20 or more years of experience in missile defense, space systems, space domain awareness, space-based sensing, missile warning, tracking, discrimination, battle management, or related missions.
Direct experience with Space Based Interceptor, missile defense interceptors, fire control, space vehicle design or operations, or integrated missile defense architectures.
Experience interacting with the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, Combatant Commands, or other space and missile defense stakeholders.
Experience embedded directly in a Government program office or supporting Government acquisition, systems-engineering, or technical-assessment activities.
Experience supporting ground and flight test planning, execution, analysis, and evaluation for missile defense or space systems.
Experience assessing system-level performance using modeling and simulation, digital engineering, mission analysis, or operational analysis tools and methods.
Experience leading technical teams, programs, projects, or portfolios involving Government, industry, National Laboratories, UARCs, and/or FFRDCs.
Established professional relationships across the missile defense, space, intelligence, and warfighter communities.
Knowledge of APL’s Quality Management System and program-execution processes.
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

Advise program leadership, Government sponsors, and mission partners on space-enabled missile defense priorities, architectures, and technical decisions.
Lead technical integration of Space Based Interceptor system concepts and related space-enabled missile defense capabilities.
Evaluate system architectures, requirements, interfaces, operational concepts, and performance trades across fire control, interceptor systems, spacecraft operations, battle management, command and control, sensing, and ground and flight test.
Lead or contribute to system-level technical analyses, studies, reviews, and recommendations addressing mission, technical, cost, schedule, and risk considerations.
Translate sponsor and operational needs into technically sound, executable tasks, analyses, prototypes, and systems-engineering activities.
Participate in and, as appropriate, lead technical and programmatic meetings with Government sponsors, vendors, UARCs/FFRDCs, and other mission partners.
Provide independent technical insight and constructive challenge during design reviews, requirements discussions, architecture assessments, risk reviews, and test-planning activities.
Support development of technical roadmaps, investment strategies, and future tasking opportunities aligned with sponsor priorities and emerging operational needs.
Maintain awareness of relevant missile defense, space, intelligence, and warfighter activities to align technical recommendations with evolving mission requirements.
Help identify and mitigate technical risks, resolve cross-disciplinary issues, and ensure products meet standards for technical quality and mission relevance.
Mentor and guide technical staff, develop technical talent, and foster collaboration across the Huntsville program office and the broader APL organization.
Apply APL quality, configuration-management, risk-management, and technical-product-development processes in alignment with APL’s Quality Management System.