CBRN Subject Matter Expert

About the role

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of expertise, SPA is known for continuous innovation supporting government customers in the US and abroad. The Joint, Office of the Secretary of War, Interagency Division (JOID) provides analytical and programmatic capabilities to the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. The Critical Infrastructure Group (CIG) within JOID supports national security missions for agencies including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

This position supports risk assessment efforts for DHS, with the primary place of performance at SPA Headquarters in Alexandria, VA, including regular visits to customer sites in VA and DC.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized technical expertise on CBRN/WMD risk and counterterrorism to support an Operations Research (OR) team developing models, simulations, and risk assessment tools.
• Advise OR analysts on threat pathways, agent characteristics, detection and response capabilities, operational concepts, and consequence mechanisms to ensure analytic approaches are technically valid and operationally realistic.
• Focus on program- and jurisdictional-level CBRN risk and capability analysis, use of DHS risk models, and technical input for CWMD prevention, detection, and response programs.
• Design model structures, define scenarios, select and parameterize inputs, and interpret outputs for leadership and stakeholders.
• Conduct subject-matter review of modeling, simulation, analysis, and visualization products; contribute to technical analyses, requirements, concepts of operation, and test documentation.
• Support Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) activities.
• Participate in and lead technical portions of integrated product teams and working groups.
• Develop and review risk and gap assessment reports, jurisdictional assessment approaches, monthly progress reports, and technical briefings for CWMD and CBP leadership.

Requirements

• Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in CBRNE/WMD, including one or more of the following: chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and/or explosive threats; CBRN defense capabilities; detection and surveillance systems; and incident response and consequence management.
• Experience working with or supporting analytic/modeling efforts (e.g., operations research, risk assessment, modeling and simulation, or systems analysis), providing technical input to model design, assumptions, and interpretation of results.
• Experience in homeland security, defense, or related complex mission areas involving CBRN risk, terrorism, or counterproliferation, including program-level and/or jurisdictional-level assessments.
• Proven ability to communicate complex CBRN technical concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders, including OR analysts, senior government leaders, technical experts, and state/local partners.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain DHS Suitability.
• Able to work fully onsite based on client needs.

Qualifications (Desired)

• Experience providing technical CBRN support to program planning and oversight, exercise development, system-level analysis, and system integration, including understanding of CBRN threats, vulnerabilities, and layered defense architectures.
• Familiarity with DHS risk models, CBRN models, and CBRN detection architecture concepts, and prior experience integrating these into analytic or OR tools.
• Active Top Secret clearance and/or active DHS Suitability.

Benefits

SPA provides eligible employees with a variety of benefit programs, including:

• Health insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Life and disability insurance programs.
• Programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work.

Specific programs and options may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location and date of hire.

Pay

Salary range: $145,000 – $175,000 per year. Salaries are commensurate with experience, qualifications, and market considerations.