Mission Planning Lead

Job Summary

The Mission Planning Lead will play a critical role in test planning and execution, leading efforts from the initiation of MACH-TB Lifecycle 3 (Test Planning and Execution) through launch and post-mission reviews. This position is pivotal to the success of test missions that shape the future of defense technologies, ensuring mission activities are executed efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with program and stakeholder requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead Test Planning and Execution
• Oversee all mission activities from inception to post-mission reviews, ensuring timely, high-quality deliverables and mission success
• Plan Mach-TB missions to meet Mach-TB Program and external stakeholder experiment requirements
• Understand mission objectives and ensure test is designed to meet objectives
• Understand overall mission strategy and employ system capabilities across classification domains
• Cook up teams and stakeholders
• Help oversee mission planning and execution efforts, serving as a liaison with the Mission Director/Test Chief Engineer
• Organize and lead Mission Planning, Execution and Readiness Review Working Groups
• Prepare and present milestone reviews
• Work with test round providers, range support elements, and broader program teams to ensure alignment of mission objectives
• Create and present detailed Test Plans, Mission Readiness Review (MRR) artifacts, execution checklists, communication plans, launch constraints documents, executive review packages, and mission calendars
• Develop operational schedules and milestone reviews and gain approval for the Test Plan through the readiness review processes
• Provide input into test execution estimates to support Financial Team as needed
• Contribute to key test architecture and configuration meetings across classification domains to ensure mission objectives are met
• Monitor Progress and Communicate Results
• Deliver status updates to program elements and leadership, ensuring transparent communication at all times
• Ranges Coordination and Travel
• Act as a liaison for range support and travel to facilitate meeting and planning efforts, site visits, and test execution activities

Qualifications

• Active Secret Clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field such as Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Operations Management, or equivalent experience and at least nine (9) years of experience. Master's degree and at least seven (7) years of experience. Additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of degree
• Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams in organizationally complex environments
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills, with significant experience leading concurrent mission operations
• Availability to travel frequently for required operational support, 25-50%
• Experience with hypersonic flight tests, missile test programs or similar testbed environments
• Familiarity with Department of Defense (DoD) standards, practices, acquisition processes for T&E
• Experience with mission architecture, test configuration management, and working in cross-classification environments
• Working knowledge of test range planning and coordination
• Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal—with an ability to present to technical and non-technical audiences
• Self-motivated problem solver with the ability to adapt to expected and unexpected challenges
• Proficient in facilitating technical working groups and readiness reviews
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm and resourceful under pressure in high-stakes scenarios