Exercise Execution Systems Engineer

About the role

The Exercise Execution Systems Engineer supports a dynamic and innovative space program office in Chantilly, VA, focusing on designing, planning, and executing operational test campaigns and exercises to assess, validate, and demonstrate on-orbit system capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute operational test campaigns and exercises to evaluate and validate on-orbit capabilities, mission performance, and system effectiveness.
• Lead exercise planning activities, including development of objectives, scenarios, success criteria, execution timelines, risk assessments, and post-exercise evaluations.
• Cook up exercise participation opportunities by coordinating with DoD organizations, Intelligence Community agencies, Combatant Commands, and international mission partners.
• Facilitate integration of operational, engineering, intelligence, and mission requirements into comprehensive exercise and test plans.
• Develop methods to assess system performance, operational utility, mission effectiveness, and resilience in realistic operational environments.
• Identify and implement innovative testing methodologies, modeling and simulation approaches, digital engineering capabilities, and alternative validation techniques that reduce cost and schedule impacts while maintaining mission confidence.
• Coordinate exercise logistics, resources, personnel, communications, and operational support requirements across multiple organizations and geographic locations.
• Analyze exercise results and operational data to identify system strengths, limitations, risks, and opportunities for capability improvements.
• Develop technical reports, after-action assessments, lessons learned, and executive-level briefings to communicate exercise outcomes and recommendations.
• Support verification, validation, and accreditation activities associated with mission systems and operational capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership and systems engineering expertise throughout the exercise lifecycle, from concept development through execution and assessment.
• Travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations to support planning conferences, operational coordination, test events, and exercise execution activities.

Requirements

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline.
• Required: 9+ years of experience supporting systems engineering, operational testing, military exercises, mission operations, or space system development programs.
• Required: Demonstrated experience planning and executing operational tests, exercises, demonstrations, or capability assessments.
• Required: Experience developing test objectives, operational scenarios, performance metrics, and validation methodologies.
• Required: Knowledge of systems engineering principles, test and evaluation processes, and mission assurance practices.
• Required: Experience collaborating with DoD organizations, Intelligence Community agencies, and multi-organizational mission partners.
• Required: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex operational challenges.
• Required: Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and coordinate activities across geographically dispersed organizations.
• Required: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience briefing senior government and military leadership.
• Required: Willingness and ability to travel extensively to CONUS and OCONUS locations.
• Required: Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph; eligibility for required program access.

Qualifications

• Desired: Supporting National Security Space, ISR, GEOINT, SATCOM, or other space-based mission programs.
• Desired: Familiarity with Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) processes and military exercise planning frameworks.
• Desired: Experience with modeling and simulation tools used for mission planning, system performance assessment, and capability validation.
• Desired: Experience working with coalition, allied, and international mission partners.
• Desired: Experience evaluating operational resilience, contested environment performance, or mission assurance objectives.