Cost Analyst, Senior

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead teams of junior analysts to successfully meet project objectives
• Identify, scope, and execute structured analysis for government sponsors while managing timelines, deliverables and outcomes
• Key functions include developing models and performing qualitative and quantitative analyses to understand the cost/economic/financial impact of investments, risk mitigation strategies, options and other government actions
• Collecting and analyzing financial, cost, and economic data
• Developing program technical and programmatic baselines
• Developing innovative development, production and operating and support (O&S) cost estimating techniques for a broad range of cost elements
• Developing independent or program life cycle cost estimates (LCCEs) and accompanying cost and schedule risk, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis
• Performing cost-related studies and analysis, e.g., on rate reasonableness
• Conducting investment economic and decision analyses, including business case analyses, cost/benefit analyses, analysis-of-alternatives, and portfolio analysis
• Developing strategic business and financial analyses, including but not limited to economic studies, cost recovery strategies, budget development & planning, and affordability analysis
• Affirming the credibility of government and industry cost estimates using benchmark guidance, such as the GAO 12 steps and the Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK)
• Affirming the credibility of government and industry cost savings initiatives data
• Conducting surveys and utilizing various sampling techniques
• Researching various fields including politics, national security, healthcare, education, energy, etc.
• Making use of historical data and analyzing market trends
• Assisting in identifying sources of information and gathering a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data to support decisions that have implications for MITRE and its government sponsors
• Applying analysis skills, including exploratory data analysis, time series analysis, and linear regression
• Drawing conclusions from analyses and clearly and concisely articulating key findings in both written and verbal form
• Aiding in the development of data visualization products that improve the presentation of complex data sets
• Translating unstructured data and nontraditional sources of information into business insights
• Performing data cleaning, visualization and analysis in standard statistical and graphics software languages such as R, Stata and Excel

Basic Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of experience, including previous leadership experience in cost estimating, cost risk analysis, and/or budgeting and the CPIC process in defense, intelligence and/or civil agencies
• Proficiency in development of risk-adjusted LCCEs and investment economic and decision analyses
• Proficient with MS Office Suite, and other tools for analysis
• Technical depth with demonstrated skills and experience in presenting analytical results both verbally and in writing
• Bachelor's or Master’s in Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Finance, Business, Operations Research, Systems Engineering, Data Science, or related field
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with software engineering best practices and agile devops software development processes
• Experience with econometric/economic modeling and analysis
• Experience with developing Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) for service and product acquisitions
• Strong working knowledge of federal budgeting and spending mechanics, processes, and data
• Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) and OMB Circular A-11
• Academic or practical experience in acquisition reform and PPBE reform initiatives
• Knowledge and understanding of federal government budget and spending rules, processes, and procedures
• Demonstrated interest in public service and advancing mission-focused outcomes
• Strong foundation in Python and SQL and familiarity with modern data processing tools or frameworks (e.g., Pandas, Spark, Databricks, Airflow)
• Proficiency in optimization-related coding, e.g. in Python