Special Operations Planner - J7

QinetiQ US•Colorado Springs, CO

10d•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Join us in supporting the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), one of the nation’s eleven unified combatant commands responsible for space operations critical to joint warfighting. We are seeking an experienced Joint Force Development Specialist to serve as an embedded contractor supporting the USSPACECOM headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in joint training, doctrine development, lessons learned processes, and exercise design – including familiarity with space domain operations and space warfighting integration – and can produce decision-ready products for senior leadership under dynamic, time-sensitive conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (strategic studies, national security affairs, systems engineering, operations research, or related field)
10+ years of experience in joint force development, joint training, doctrine development, or lessons learned at a joint headquarters, Combatant Command, or Service Component level
Demonstrated experience with the Joint Training System (JTS), Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC), and/or the Joint Lessons Learned Program (JLLP)
Experience developing or staffing joint doctrine publications, TTPs, or capstone guidance at the Combatant Command or Joint Staff level
Strong written and oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to produce high-quality briefings, assessments, and staff packages under high-pressure, short-suspense conditions
Proficiency with classified systems and tools including SIPRNet, JWICS, and JLLIS
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in strategic studies, national security affairs, education and training, space policy, or a related field
Prior direct experience supporting USSPACECOM, another Functional Combatant Command (FCC), or the Joint Staff J7
Familiarity with space operations doctrine including JP 3-14 (Space Operations), JP 7-0 (Joint Training), and JP 5-0 (Joint Planning)
Experience with the Universal Joint Task List (UJTL) and development or assessment of Mission Essential Task Lists (METLs) for space warfighting missions
Familiarity with modeling and simulation (M&S) tools, constructive simulation environments, or wargame design methodologies used to support space domain training and readiness assessment
Background in Space warfighting concepts including space domain awareness, satellite communications, missile warning, and space control, and their integration into joint force development programs
Prior military service with experience as a Space Operations Officer (FA40), joint staff officer, or in a training, doctrine, or force development billet at a major headquarters

Responsibilities

Support and lead joint force development efforts across training program design, doctrine authorship, lessons learned integration, and readiness assessment in support of USSPACECOM’s mission to deter aggression and defend U.S. and allied interests in the space domain
Develop, review, and staff joint doctrine publications, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and related guidance that integrate space warfighting capabilities into joint operations, coordinating inputs across USSPACECOM Directorates, Service Components, and the Joint Staff J7
Manage and advance USSPACECOM’s lessons learned program, including collection, analysis, and dissemination of observations, insights, and lessons (OIL) derived from real-world operations, exercises, and wargames; coordinate with the Joint Lessons Learned Information System (JLLIS) to ensure institutional knowledge is captured and actioned
Plan, coordinate, and execute joint training events, exercises, and wargames – including scenario design, Master Scenario Event List (MSEL) development, training audience coordination, execution support, and After Action Reviews (AARs) – to assess and improve USSPACECOM joint force readiness
Assess joint qualification and readiness of assigned forces; support the development and tracking of individual and collective training requirements aligned to USSPACECOM’s Universal Joint Task List (UJTL) and Mission Essential Task Lists (METLs)
Support the development and coordination of USSPACECOM’s Joint Training Plan and associated exercise schedule, ensuring events are sequenced to build proficiency across the full range of space warfighting missions
Develop and present decision-ready products – including briefings, staff packages, training assessments, doctrine summaries, and readiness reports – for senior and flag-level leadership
Coordinate with Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) institutions, Space training organizations, and interagency partners to align force development initiatives with broader joint and national security education priorities
Maintain strict operational security (OPSEC), manage classification levels (TS/SCI), and ensure all force development products comply with applicable legal, policy, and doctrinal frameworks
Identify gaps in joint training, doctrine, and readiness; propose solutions and resource requirements; and adapt force development products as USSPACECOM’s operational responsibilities and the competitive space environment evolve