Senior IT/Network Support Specialist - Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With more than 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the U.S. and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA strives to be a value-added Objective, Responsive, and Trusted partner and premier provider.

The Space and Intelligence (S&I) Division provides engineering services and analytic support to the Air Force, Space Force, Combatant Commands, the Intelligence Community, and NASA. Our work includes systems engineering and integration, test planning and execution, cost estimating and analysis, developing approaches and concepts to meet emerging, high priority National Defense needs, and assessing and developing cutting-edge computer-based solutions, advanced technologies and progressive capabilities to meet those needs.

The S&I Division comprises the Intelligence Programs Group (IPG), the Space Systems Group (SSG), and the Strategic Technology Analysis Group (STAG), which collectively provide outstanding support to help their customers achieve our nation’s most critical objectives and goals designed to protect the safety and livelihoods of all U.S. Citizens, military forces at home and abroad.

SPA has an immediate need for a number of highly qualified Senior IT/Network Support Specialists to support our new U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power (SDA&CP) and Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) Support Services contract (Hemisphere) in multiple locations including the El Segundo, CA, Colorado Springs, CO and the Dayton, OH areas.

Travel is not anticipated but would occur less than five percent of the time on an occasional and irregular basis and be limited to domestic locations only. 

We are seeking multiple candidates to fill the following positions at the Senior and Subject Matter Expert (SME) levels:

• Senior Computer/Network System Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA and Colorado Springs, CO areas
• Senior Cyber/Network System Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA and Colorado Springs, CO areas
• Information Systems Security Engineer SMEs located in the Colorado Springs, CO area
• Senior Network System Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA, Dayton, OH, and Colorado Springs, CO areas 
• Senior Networks IT Managers located in the El Segundo, CA area
• National Security Operations Center (NSOC)/Space Operational Center Site Engineers located in the Colorado Springs, CO area
• Senior Operations Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Program Cybersecurity SMEs located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Senior Software Architects located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Chief Software Architect SMEs located in the El Segundo, CA and Colorado Springs, CO areas
• Senior Software Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Senior Principal Software Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Principal Software Systems Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA area
• Senior Principal Software Systems Engineers located in the El Segundo, CA area.

The Senior and SME IT/Network Support Specialists that will support cybersecurity shall have:

• Knowledge in managing technical projects with emphasis on cybersecurity development, cyber integration, system (network) engineering, requirements development, software engineering, and algorithm design
• Experience with DoD and U.S. Military policies
• Experience with effective communication with leadership, stakeholders, and development/industry communities
• Knowledge in interfacing with the cyber and DoD Intelligence Community
• Subject Matter Expertise in computer networks, network protocols, and network architectures
• Knowledge of organization and execution of contingency planning, testing, and validation for all aspects of information system security
• Ability to integrate and engineer cybersecurity into mission systems
• Ability to develop cyber tools for use by cyber operators
• Experience rapidly maturing and applying technology in operationally relevant environments
• Experience working with mission partners to develop solutions
• Experience with modern Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (C5ISRT) systems in the DoD
• Knowledge in system (network) engineering, technology development, government acquisitions, and space and intelligence systems
• Knowledge in interfacing with the cyber and DoD Intelligence Community
• Knowledge in the evaluation/assessment of cyberspace and program protection solicitation products (e.g., work statements, acquisition plans, technical readiness assessments, contract data artifacts, technical requirements/compliance documents, and evaluation criteria, etc.) for rigor, adequacy, and completeness

The Senior and SME IT/Network Support Specialists that will provide System Network and Administration support shall have:

• Knowledge in system (network) engineering, technology development, government acquisitions, and space and intelligence systems
• Experience with Intelligence Community (IC), DoD and U.S. Military policies
• Experienced in effective communication with leadership, stakeholders, and development/industry communities
• Experience accessing multiple sources and experts/agencies
• Experience performing oversight of the development, implementation, and evaluation of information system security program policy with special emphasis on integration of existing Special Access Program (SAP) network infrastructures
• Expertise in the development and execution of analysis of network security based on Risk Management Framework (RMF) guidelines with emphasis on joint SAP Implementation Guide authorization process.
• Knowledge in classified system (network) engineering processes and procedures, including requirements development, configuration control, and Authority to Operate (ATO) procedures
• Ability to organize and conduct information security support operations and management
• Ability to develop, update, and coordinate network operations
• Expertise in Wide-Area Network (WAN) architecture planning, design, and applicable open system interconnection layers
• Knowledge in Information Technology Service Management (ITSM)
• Knowledge in architecture and system requirements development
• Expertise in the space control mission area
• Expertise in highly classified space control space, ground operations, and Command and Control (C2) systems (e.g., concepts, development, build, and test)

The Senior and SME IT/Network Support Specialists that will perform software development services shall have:

• Experience with DoD and U.S. Military policies
• Advanced skills in Agile Methodology and Process at scale with an emphasis on Enterprise Software Engineering
• Advanced skills in modern commercial industry enterprise software engineering mindsets, best practices, and patterns for successful continuous integration, test, delivery, and deployment at scale
• Advanced skills in DevSecOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and vertical slice development approaches and best practices
• Familiarity with highly available, scalable cloud native (Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS)) solutions within commercial industry
• Familiarity with highly scalable Data as a Service (DaaS) solutions within commercial industry
• Software architecture expertise as demonstrated through professional publications and/or patents or advanced (Master's or Doctorate) degrees
• Ability to develop technical solutions to complex problems that require regular use of ingenuity and creativity
• Experience recommending/making decisions on administrative or project work matters and ensures effective achievement of program, project, or organizational objectives
• Experience working on unusually complex technical problems and providing solutions that are highly innovative and ingenious
• Experience acting as an advisor to management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications.

Required:

• U.S. Citizen
• Active TS/SCI clearance/access or TS/SCI Eligible
• Earned college degree in an IT-related discipline, e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, or Software Engineering with the following levels of equivalency:
• A BA/BS with at least 15 years of relevant experience, or
• An MA/MS with at least 12 years of relevant experience, or
• A PhD or JD with at least 8 years of relevant experience

Desired:

• Specific direct experience performing similar tasks in the U.S. Air Force and/or the U.S. Space Force IT/Network environments
• Specific direct knowledge and experience with IT/Network-related activity associated with Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Control, satellite design, launch operations and space system operations
• PMP, CISSP, and/or Security+ certifications
• Expert-level skills in Java, Python, C++, Kubernetes, AWA, Azure, and/or Cloud Computing
• Current CI polygraph or willingness to take one

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent.  Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.  

SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.  The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc.

Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only.  Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.  Pay Transparency Range: 160k - 230k