OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST

About the role

Igniters operate in the world’s most demanding environment. As an employee-owned SDVOSB headquartered in Huntsville, AL, our team delivers mission-critical impact for the Army, Air Force, Space Force, MDA, NASA, DIA, and FBI. We move fast, think differently, and execute with precision to tackle high-stakes challenges across AI/ML, space and missile defense intelligence, EMSO, advanced analytics, and programmatic domains.

This position supports Aviation and Missile Center UAS / C-UAS Proof of Concept (PoC) trial in Huntsville, Alabama. The role is expected to be onsite with government clients. Some travel is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytical assessments of UAS and C-UAS operational concepts.
• Evaluate mission effectiveness across multiple operational scenarios.
• Assess operational suitability, survivability, and mission utility of prototype capabilities.
• Develop Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs), Measures of Performance (MOPs), and Key Performance Parameters (KPPs).
• Identify operational strengths, limitations, and improvement opportunities.
• Perform mission-level simulations of UAS and C-UAS employment.
• Analyze engagement timelines, sensor coverage, interceptor effectiveness, and mission success probabilities.
• Evaluate alternative concepts of employment (CONOPS).
• Analyze data collected during laboratory testing, field demonstrations, and operational exercises.
• Develop statistical analyses supporting system performance assessments.
• Assist in designing operational experiments and demonstration events.
• Develop analytical objectives for Proof of Concept activities.
• Define test metrics and evaluation methodologies.
• Support operational assessments during field demonstrations.
• Evaluate technology alternatives and investment options.
• Assess effectiveness of UAS and C-UAS capabilities across missions.
• Support senior decision-makers with objective, data-driven recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or related analytical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience applying operations research techniques to Department of Defense programs.
• Experience supporting operational analysis, experimentation, or test and evaluation activities.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative analysis and decision support.
• Experience supporting defense acquisition or capability development programs.
• Strong analytical, statistical, and modeling skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must have an active Secret Clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Must be a US citizen and be able to obtain and hold an active security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or Systems Engineering.
• Experience supporting UAS, Counter-UAS, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), or autonomous systems.
• Knowledge of military operational planning and doctrine.
• Experience supporting rapid prototyping, experimentation, or Other Transaction Authority (OTA) projects.
• Familiarity with Digital Engineering and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Experience supporting AI-enabled decision support systems.