Program Analyst

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The AUKUS, Submarines, and Industrial Base Group (ASIG), within the Sea, Land, Air Division, provides timely, objective, analytic assessments that integrate technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis to NAVSEA Team Submarine program offices and key stakeholders surrounding submarine platform construction. Team Submarine unifies submarine platform procurement activities, which includes the Columbia-class SSBN program (a Major Defense Acquisition Program and the Navy’s top acquisition priority), the Virginia-class SSN program and the new SSN-X program (developing the next generation attack submarine), to bring improved capabilities to our undersea forces. Analysts and Engineers supporting Team Submarine will continue SPA’s decades of support to the SSBN force, as well as supporting oversight of cutting-edge attack submarine construction, assisting in developing the design requirements for the SSN platform of the future, and helping plan and execute new and innovative strategies to strengthen the critical submarine shipbuilding industrial base. These are high-profile, major acquisition and manufacturing programs of significant importance to the future capabilities of the US Navy in an era of renewed strategic competition. #MC

Responsibilities

The Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) Exercise Planning and Execution Analyst will provide technical, operational, and administrative planning support to the COMSUBFOR AUKUS Director, US Country Lead, and the team's Lead-level staff.

Operating under the direct guidance of the Operational Integration and Interoperability Lead, this position provides comprehensive staff support to the team's extensive liaison efforts across the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW R&E), OPNAV Requirements and Resource Sponsors, Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) acquisition enterprise (PAE/DRPM), Operational Headquarters and Type Commanders (COMSUBLANT/COMSUBPAC), and industry partners. Crucially, the Analyst will take the operational lead on the planning, coordination, and execution of a recurring major annual SSW exercise series and provide direct support to the execution of a second annual exercise, to validate emerging technologies and accelerate their fielding to the fleet.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Exercise Planning & Management: Plan, coordinate, execute, and assess SSW exercise series. Utilize these exercises to validate newly developed operational concepts, demonstrate emerging and fielded undersea capabilities, assess trilateral integration and interoperability, and build real-world operating experience.
• Technology Transition Acceleration: Leverage exercise outcomes to accelerate the transition of validated and proven technologies, prototype systems, and tactical practices into formal warfighting capabilities. Coordinate with the acquisition community to ensure evidence-based operational utility and maturity evaluations are fed back to leadership.
• Trilateral and Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinate, manage and execute large planning conferences, meetings, and collaboration activities to ensure alignment of AUKUS SSW operational testing and development efforts among USN stakeholders, AUKUS partners (UK/Australia), and the broader US AUKUS governance structure.
• NWP 5-01 / Joint Planning Application: Draft mission planning materials, concept of operations (CONOPs), planning directives (e.g., WARNORDs, FRAGORDs, EXORDs), and post-event reconstruction documentation (including Quick Look Reports and Hotwash summaries).
• Information & Clearance Management: Facilitate planning meetings and tabletop exercises, ensuring proper scheduling, resource allocation, foreign disclosure/releasability reviews, clearance coordination, and secure transmission of classified data.
• Location & Travel: This position is located in Norfolk, VA, with some required travel in conjunction with exercise planning conferences and execution periods, consisting of up to 10-20% of the year. Additional optional opportunities to travel to partner, operational command, and industry stakeholder locations, consisting of

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (highly preferred), or equivalent combination of education, military service, and professional experience
• Experimentation & Operational Background: Demonstrated experience with operational prototyping, rapid experimentation, and/or joint field testing events. 8+ years of professional experience in military operations, defense planning, or major exercise design.
• Planning Process Proficiency: Demonstrated experience with U.S. Navy and/or Joint planning processes (e.g., NWP 5-01, Joint Event Lifecycle (JELC), or operational test planning).
• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs)
• Briefing Capability: Ability to effectively communicate task and project status, complex exercise schedules, and operational concepts to senior leaders at the O-5/O-6/GS-14/GS-15 level (both verbally and in written executive briefs.

Desired Qualifications:

• Submarine Community Experience: Experience with US Navy submarine operations, undersea warfare (USW) and/or Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) systems and missions
• International Collaboration: Experience working with international allies or partners (specifically UK/Australia under the AUKUS framework).
• Acquisition Experience: Experience supporting a NAVSEA acquisition program office or working within Team Submarine / COMSUBFOR.

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Virginia, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $115,000.00/Yr. - USD $165,000.00/Yr. The Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) Exercise Planning and Execution Analyst will provide technical, operational, and administrative planning support to the COMSUBFOR AUKUS Director, US Country Lead, and the team's Lead-level staff.

Operating under the direct guidance of the Operational Integration and Interoperability Lead, this position provides comprehensive staff support to the team's extensive liaison efforts across the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW R&E), OPNAV Requirements and Resource Sponsors, Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) acquisition enterprise (PAE/DRPM), Operational Headquarters and Type Commanders (COMSUBLANT/COMSUBPAC), and industry partners. Crucially, the Analyst will take the operational lead on the planning, coordination, and execution of a recurring major annual SSW exercise series and provide direct support to the execution of a second annual exercise, to validate emerging technologies and accelerate their fielding to the fleet.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Exercise Planning & Management: Plan, coordinate, execute, and assess SSW exercise series. Utilize these exercises to validate newly developed operational concepts, demonstrate emerging and fielded undersea capabilities, assess trilateral integration and interoperability, and build real-world operating experience.
• Technology Transition Acceleration: Leverage exercise outcomes to accelerate the transition of validated and proven technologies, prototype systems, and tactical practices into formal warfighting capabilities. Coordinate with the acquisition community to ensure evidence-based operational utility and maturity evaluations are fed back to leadership.
• Trilateral and Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinate, manage and execute large planning conferences, meetings, and collaboration activities to ensure alignment of AUKUS SSW operational testing and development efforts among USN stakeholders, AUKUS partners (UK/Australia), and the broader US AUKUS governance structure.
• NWP 5-01 / Joint Planning Application: Draft mission planning materials, concept of operations (CONOPs), planning directives (e.g., WARNORDs, FRAGORDs, EXORDs), and post-event reconstruction documentation (including Quick Look Reports and Hotwash summaries).
• Information & Clearance Management: Facilitate planning meetings and tabletop exercises, ensuring proper scheduling, resource allocation, foreign disclosure/releasability reviews, clearance coordination, and secure transmission of classified data.
• Location & Travel: This position is located in Norfolk, VA, with some required travel in conjunction with exercise planning conferences and execution periods, consisting of up to 10-20% of the year. Additional optional opportunities to travel to partner, operational command, and industry stakeholder locations, consisting of <10% of the year. There is an opportunity for light telework.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (highly preferred), or equivalent combination of education, military service, and professional experience
• Experimentation & Operational Background: Demonstrated experience with operational prototyping, rapid experimentation, and/or joint field testing events. 8+ years of professional experience in military operations, defense planning, or major exercise design.
• Planning Process Proficiency: Demonstrated experience with U.S. Navy and/or Joint planning processes (e.g., NWP 5-01, Joint Event Lifecycle (JELC), or operational test planning).
• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs)
• Briefing Capability: Ability to effectively communicate task and project status, complex exercise schedules, and operational concepts to senior leaders at the O-5/O-6/GS-14/GS-15 level (both verbally and in written executive briefs.

Desired Qualifications:

• Submarine Community Experience: Experience with US Navy submarine operations, undersea warfare (USW) and/or Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) systems and missions
• International Collaboration: Experience working with international allies or partners (specifically UK/Australia under the AUKUS framework).
• Acquisition Experience: Experience supporting a NAVSEA acquisition program office or working within Team Submarine / COMSUBFOR.