Trident Submarine Maintenance & Availability SME Lead

KMS Solutions, LLC•Kings Bay Base, GA

12d•$130,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

KMS Solutions, LLC is seeking a highly experienced former U.S. Navy Officer to serve as a Trident Submarine Maintenance & Availability Subject Matter Expert (Strategic Advisor Lead). The role is based on-site at the Trident Refit Facility (TRF) and serves as a senior technical advisor and strategic liaison supporting the In-Service Strategic Submarines Program Office (PMS 396). The position provides operational foresight, engineering guidance, and availability execution oversight to help ensure Trident Submarine (SSBN/SSGN) refit periods, dry dock availabilities, and depot-level maintenance baselines align with Director Submarine Programs (DSP), Submarine Type Commander (TYCOM), and fleet readiness objectives. The advisor supports submarine crews and TRF personnel in completing availabilities on time and at cost. The ideal candidate has experience as a Repair Officer (RO) or Production Manager Assistant (PMA) at a Trident Repair Facility, Naval Shipyard, or Submarine Tender. The role provides technical and strategic advisory support for submarine maintenance planning and execution; advises ship leadership and maintenance personnel; reviews maintenance plans; mentors ship’s force personnel; and helps maintain integrated plans, processes, and institutional knowledge across refit cycles. It also integrates TRF planning products and work packages with ship’s force maintenance, testing, and training plans, and coordinates among ship’s force, TRF personnel, maintenance support activities, program offices, TYCOMs, shipyards, and Naval Warfare Centers. The advisor evaluates availability schedules, work packages, and maintenance baselines for risks, technical discrepancies, and material needs; analyzes recurring planning and execution problems; supports compliance with the Trident Refit Manual; and recommends corrective actions and manual updates. The role incorporates lessons learned from Ohio-class availabilities into ongoing strategies and Columbia-class transition planning, and reviews technical documentation, engineering changes, Liaison Action Records, and technical guidance instructions. This position requires the ability to obtain and/or maintain a DoD Security Clearance and access to worksite locations. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at hire and throughout employment. The position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment. Telework may be allowed up to 20%, subject to business and customer needs; greater in-office presence is required during the initial six months. Travel of up to 20% may be required, with CONUS travel and potential OCONUS travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering, Operations Research, Business Administration, or a related technical field.
At least 10 years of experience in engineering, science management, operational facility planning, or major defense infrastructure/acquisition programs.
Significant background supporting U.S. Navy submarine programs, naval installations, or fleet support activities.
Ability to obtain and/or maintain a DoD Security Clearance and required access to worksite locations; security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens.
Legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout employment.
Outstanding client-facing and interpersonal skills, with ability to advise senior Navy civilian, military, and contractor leadership.
Superior analytical capabilities to resolve complex technical, material, and scheduling bottlenecks during submarine maintenance availabilities.
Self-direction, initiative, and reliability to operate autonomously at forward-deployed or shore installation locations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including drafting high-level technical briefs, executive correspondence, and white papers.
Ability to travel CONUS and potentially OCONUS; travel up to 20% may be required.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including regularly talking and hearing; frequently standing, walking, handling or feeling objects, and reaching; and lifting up to 20 pounds.
Availability during core work hours determined by the contract/location, attendance at mandatory meetings, and accounting for required pay-period hours to maintain full-time status.

Nice To Haves

Prior commissioned officer in the United States Navy, such as a Submarine Warfare Officer or Engineering Duty Officer, with extensive submarine operations, maintenance, or program management experience.
At least 15 years of experience in U.S. Navy submarine maintenance, fleet operations, or program management, including direct experience with Program Manager Air/Afloat (PMA) or Program Management (PM) organizations.
Demonstrated experience working within or directly interfacing with Trident Refit Facilities (TRF Kings Bay or TRF Bangor) and shipyard maintenance availabilities.
Experience as a Repair Officer (RO) or Production Manager Assistant (PMA) at a Trident Repair Facility, Naval Shipyard, or Submarine Tender.
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

Provide senior subject matter expertise, technical guidance, operational foresight, and strategic advisory services for Trident Submarine (SSBN/SSGN) maintenance, refits, and availabilities.
Advise SSBN command leadership, department heads, chief’s quarters, and maintenance personnel on maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution practices.
Review shipboard maintenance plans to identify gaps, conflicts, resource constraints, and opportunities to improve material readiness.
Mentor ship’s force personnel in work candidate development, package review, job sequencing, schedule management, and closeout documentation.
Provide continuity and institutional knowledge across refit cycles, turnover periods, and changes in ship’s force personnel.
Assist crews in developing and maintaining integrated maintenance plans that account for refit requirements, ship’s force capabilities, operational commitments, and maintenance windows.
Assist with developing or refining local maintenance planning processes, checklists, trackers, and standard operating procedures.
Provide on-site technical expertise and oversight at the Trident Refit Facility, aligning maintenance planning, refit availabilities, dry dock schedules, and depot-level maintenance cycles with program office and fleet readiness objectives.
Integrate TRF planning products, work packages, production schedules, and maintenance requirements with ship’s force maintenance, testing, and training plans.
Facilitate coordination among ship’s force, TRF personnel, maintenance support activities, and other stakeholders to align maintenance priorities and execution timelines.
Liaise among PMS 396, Submarine Type Commanders, TRF leadership, public shipyards, and Naval Warfare Centers regarding availability execution and maintenance priorities.
Liaise directly with CSG-9, CSS-17, CSS-19, TRF, and ship commanding officers, providing assessments and recommendations to improve SSBN material management at unit and force-wide levels.
Evaluate refit schedules, work packages, and maintenance baselines to identify operational risks, technical discrepancies, and long-lead material requirements before and during availabilities.
Analyze recurring maintenance planning issues, deferred work, growth work, and execution shortfalls, and recommend practical corrective actions.
Ensure SSBN refit preparation and execution comply with the Trident Refit Manual, and provide CSG-9 with feedback and recommendations for improving the manual, oversight, and performance.
Incorporate lessons learned from previous Ohio-class refits and availabilities into maintenance strategies and future Columbia-class transition planning.
Review availability lessons learned and support trend analyses and improvement recommendations.
Review technical documentation, engineering changes, Liaison Action Records, and technical guidance instructions affecting Trident Submarine maintenance, and provide executive-level recommendations.