Sr. Military Operations Specialist

RED CAT HOLDINGS•Fort Pierce, FL

6d•$103,500 - $155,365•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Military Operations Specialist is a supervisory position in Blue Ops INC.’s Operations department. The role supports the planning, coordination, oversight, and evaluation of autonomous maritime operations and related defense programs, working across engineering, operations, and government customer engagement to ensure Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) systems are tested, deployed, and sustained in support of mission requirements. The position supports research and development, testing, demonstrations, and operational deployments; coordinates mission planning with government customers and mission partners; oversees USV operations; monitors vessel telemetry and responds to incidents; executes test plans and provides technical feedback; analyzes mission data and prepares reports; and trains operators and end users. It also promotes compliance, safety, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration, while providing operational leadership and coordinating day-to-day activities for mission teams. The role is based in Fort Pierce, Florida, and involves office and operational environments, including shipyards, test ranges, and outdoor maritime settings. Travel of up to 50% may be required. Occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours may be needed to support mission operations, testing, or customer demonstrations. The position requires successfully completing a post-offer background check. Work involving ITAR/EAR-controlled items requires proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and no need for sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, maritime operations, defense systems, robotics, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
At least 8 years of experience in defense operations, maritime systems, autonomous systems, unmanned vehicles, or a related operational environment.
Demonstrated experience supporting operational planning, mission execution, and testing of complex systems.
Experience working with government customers, defense programs, or mission-focused operational environments.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess operational risks and technical challenges.
Ability to interpret technical documentation, system specifications, and operational procedures.
Proficiency with mission planning tools, command-and-control systems, telemetry monitoring, or related operational software platforms.
Strong communication and collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to work in office and operational environments, including shipyards, test ranges, and outdoor maritime settings.
Ability to stand, walk, and move around operational environments for extended periods.
May occasionally need to lift or move equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.
Ability to travel up to 50% to testing sites, demonstration events, and operational deployments as required.
Ability to work in varying environmental conditions, including heat, humidity, wind, and marine environments.
Ability to operate computer systems, mission control interfaces, and standard office equipment for extended periods.
Occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours may be required to support mission operations, testing events, or customer demonstrations.
Must successfully complete a post-offer background check.
For work subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions, must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), autonomous vehicles, or maritime robotics.
Familiarity with maritime operations, navigation, and environmental considerations affecting vessel operations.
Experience supporting defense research, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs.
Prior military, maritime, or defense industry operational experience.

Responsibilities

Support execution of product and mission-supporting programs, including research and development, testing, and operational demonstrations.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to define program goals, objectives, and deliverables; monitor progress and identify risks, technical issues, or schedule impacts.
Implement corrective actions and process improvements, and promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across operational and engineering teams.
Provide operational guidance and technical support to team members.
Coordinate with government customers and mission partners to facilitate communication and manage operational expectations.
Develop detailed mission plans incorporating environmental factors, route planning, risk mitigation, and contingency procedures.
Support operational documentation, including CONOPS, test plans, and mission briefs; participate in pre-mission planning, execution oversight, and post-mission debriefs.
Evaluate mission requirements, operational risks, environmental conditions, and constraints, and recommend mission execution approaches and operational priorities.
Oversee and coordinate USV operations during testing, training, and customer operations; lead and guide operators and mission personnel.
Operate vessel command-and-control interfaces and monitoring systems as needed; monitor telemetry, navigation status, propulsion systems, payload sensors, and communications links.
Maintain maritime situational awareness and adjust operational parameters in response to environmental or mission changes.
Monitor vehicle status and system behavior during active missions; respond to alerts, anomalies, or unexpected vessel behavior and execute contingency procedures.
Document and communicate operational issues to engineering and leadership personnel.
Execute operational test plans, record observations and results, and log events, discrepancies, and technical issues for validation and debugging.
Provide structured feedback to engineering teams and contribute to improvements in testing procedures, operator workflows, and control interfaces.
Collect and analyze mission data, interpret performance metrics and sensor outputs, produce mission reports, and support engineering assessments and capability evaluations.
Conduct operator and end-user training for government and partner personnel; support fielding events, exercises, demonstrations, and reach-back support for deployed or remote users.
Ensure operations comply with applicable maritime regulations, government policies, and operational standards; implement safety procedures and risk mitigation measures.
Coordinate with demo/RDT&E specialists, engineering and autonomy teams, payload and sensor integrators, and logistics and field support personnel.
Provide operational leadership and coordination for mission teams, including operators, technicians, and mission support personnel; coordinate day-to-day activities and help assign responsibilities.