Senior Specialist, Systems Engineering - Joint Exercise Planner

Job Title: Senior Specialist, Systems Engineering – Joint Exercise Planner (Active TS/SCI with CI Poly Required)
Job Code: 38744
Job Location: Springfield, VA (100% On-site)
Job Schedule: 5/8 Monday-Friday


Job Description:  
L3Harris Technologies has an opening for a Joint Exercise Planner that will support the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) by developing and executing exercises that validate operational readiness, refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and integrate space and ground equities into joint, interagency, and coalition space events. The planner will work closely with space mission partners, the National Space Defense Center (NSDC), and various Combatant Commands to design realistic scenarios that stress capabilities and improve the resilience of national space systems.
This position requires expertise in exercise planning, operational integration, and SDA mission awareness, with the ability to align agency objectives to the broader space enterprise training and exercise cycle.

Essential Functions:  
•    Demonstrated experience with Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC), Joint Planning Process (JPP), or similar frameworks.
•    Design and coordinate SDA-related scenarios in accordance with NRO priorities, Combatant Command directives, and JELC processes.
•    Integrate space and ground mission threads (e.g., protection of highly sensitive satellites, RPO detection, custody management, launch characterization, anomaly resolution, and commercial SDA data integration).
•    Develop injects and storylines that simulate adversary counterspace threats and space operating environment complexities.
•    Serve as the SDA/NRO representative during exercise planning conferences and working groups.
•    Coordinate with Combatant Commands, and interagency partners to ensure client equities are incorporated.
•    Align exercises with client internal training, certification events, and operational rehearsals.
•    Participate as White Cell or Control Cell lead for SDA/NRO vignettes.
•    Manage real-time injects, scenario pacing, and exercise adjudication during execution.
•    Support senior leader engagement by developing tailored briefs, updates, and assessments during events.
•    Develop measures of performance and effectiveness for Space-specific injects and objectives.
•    Produce After Action Reports (AARs) and document lessons learned in JLLIS or NRO repositories.
•    Provide recommendations to refine SDA doctrine, CONOPS, and TTPs based on exercise outcomes.


Qualifications: 
•    Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 6 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
•    Active Top Secret/SCI with CI Poly required.
•    5 – 6 years of experience in space operations, intelligence operations, or military/government exercise planning.
•    Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.


Preferred Additional Skills: 
•    Proficiency with planning tools (e.g., JTIMS, JLLIS) and space modeling/simulation tools (STK, ODTK, or similar).
•    Strong MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
•    Excellent analytical and attention to detail abilities.