Full-Time

NC3 Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert

Deadline 7/24/27
Systems Planning and Analysis

Systems Planning and Analysis

1,001-5,000 employees

Provides data-driven national security analytics

Compensation Overview

$180k - $200k/yr

+ Variable compensation opportunities

No H1B Sponsorship

Alexandria, VA, USA

In Person

US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
IT & Security (1)
Required Skills
Data Visualization
Cybersecurity

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related technical field.
  • At least 8 years of experience in cybersecurity operations, engineering, or cyber risk management, with a substantial portion focused on mission-critical or command-and-control systems in the Department of Defense or Intelligence Community.
  • Experience assessing the resiliency and survivability of complex systems against cyber, physical, and electromagnetic threats and translating those assessments into recommendations for policy, requirements, and investment.
  • Familiarity with Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications or other nuclear and strategic command-and-control environments, including how cyber vulnerabilities and mitigations intersect with mission assurance, survivability, and surety requirements.
  • Strong understanding of Department of Defense cybersecurity frameworks, including the Risk Management Framework, eMASS, IAVM, and application of NIST SP 800-53 and related guidance to enterprise systems.
  • Ability to support PPBE-related analysis and documentation by connecting cyber-risk findings to program and budget positions and decision forums.
  • An active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to maintain it throughout employment.
Responsibilities
  • Evaluate NC3 systems, architectures, and modernization efforts to assess cyber risk, survivability, and resilience across cyber, physical, and electromagnetic threats.
  • Deliver decision-quality findings to AF/A10 and NC3 governance bodies.
  • Integrate AF/A10 objectives into NC3 cyber-hardening PPBE activities so cyber requirements and mitigations inform Service and Joint requirements, acquisitions, and resourcing.
  • Support AF/A10X in NC3 governance forums, including NEORAG and NC3 cyber working groups, by developing senior-leader packages, technical inputs, and talking points and by tracking actions and decisions.
  • Collaborate with DAF CIO/CISO, MAJCOMs, AFNWC/AFLCMC, USSTRATCOM, and other stakeholders to increase transparency, align cyber-hardening efforts with strategic guidance, and provide an enterprise-level view of NC3 cyber risk and mitigation priorities.
Desired Qualifications
  • Direct experience supporting AF/A10X or NC3 governance forums, including preparation of read-aheads, talking points, and post-forum products.
  • Experience using model-based or data-driven approaches, such as architecture models, dashboards, and risk registers, to link cyber vulnerabilities and mitigations to NC3 mission threads and operational impacts.
  • Background coordinating across Service, Joint, and interagency stakeholders on NC3 or other high-consequence cyber issues.
  • A relevant advanced degree, such as in cybersecurity, systems engineering, or operations research, or an advanced cybersecurity certification such as CISSP, CISM, or CASP+.
Systems Planning and Analysis

Systems Planning and Analysis

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SPA helps the U.S. government make high-stakes national security decisions by using modeling, simulation, and rigorous analysis. It builds data-driven analyses and forecasts outcomes for programs across the Navy, DoD, Homeland Security, and Energy, including space systems, cyber, and undersea warfare. It differentiates itself through decades of government-focused work, strategic acquisitions (MCR Federal, Intrepid, Group W), and an Office of Innovation that expands capabilities in AI, data science, and digital engineering. Its goal is to deliver accurate analyses and new capabilities quickly to guide defense investments and programs.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$20.1M

Headquarters

Alexandria, Virginia

Founded

1972

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • SPA won a $151 million DARPA I2O SETA contract in 2026.
  • Virginia approved SPA's $46.9 million expansion, targeting 1,200 jobs by 2030.
  • WTOP named SPA a Top Workplace for the 13th consecutive year in June 2026.

What critics are saying

  • SPA depends on Pentagon and intelligence budgets; contract concentration exposes renewal shocks.
  • Integrating Intrepid and Group W strains delivery while SPA doubles Northern Virginia headcount.
  • Arlington Capital's exit pressure prioritizes margins, pushing leadership churn and acquisition discipline.

What makes Systems Planning and Analysis unique

  • SPA holds five-decade Navy pedigree across Strategic Systems Programs and TRIDENT analysis.
  • Arlington-backed acquisitions of Intrepid, Group W, and MCR deepen modeling, space, wargaming.
  • 2026 fellows and Raj Badhwar sharpen AI, cloud, DevSecOps, and digital wargaming.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

26%

1 year growth

26%

2 year growth

26%
Associated Press
May 20th, 2026
SPA appoints four fellows to advance software, cloud, AI and digital wargaming capabilities

Systems Planning & Analysis, an independent provider of analytical insights for national security programmes, has appointed four new Fellows to advance its technical capabilities across key domains. The appointments expand SPA's expertise in software engineering, DevSecOps and cloud, applied artificial intelligence, and digital wargaming. The newly appointed Fellows are Ian Harding (Software Engineering), Steven Hernandez (DevSecOps and Cloud), Amy Soller (Applied Artificial Intelligence), and Phillip Pournelle (Digital Wargaming). These senior subject matter experts will lead the development and integration of advanced capabilities across complex, multi-domain environments for national security clients. The appointments reinforce SPA's focus on accelerating mission-ready solutions, from scalable software systems and secure cloud architectures to AI applications and analytical wargaming tools that inform critical defence and intelligence decisions.

Intelligence Community News
Jan 29th, 2026
SPA taps Raj Badhwar as CIO

SPA taps Raj Badhwar as CIO. On January 28, Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA) announced that Raj Badhwar has joined the company as chief information officer (CIO). Badhwar serves on SPA's executive leadership team and reports to Chief Executive Officer Rich Sawchak. As CIO, Badhwar leads SPA's enterprise information technology (IT) organization, including digital strategy, architecture, engineering, operations, data management, and business intelligence. He focuses on delivering secure, resilient, scalable technology, and cybersecurity platforms in close partnership with SPA's business and mission teams. "Raj brings deep expertise in cybersecurity, cloud, and enterprise IT that will be critical as SPA continues to grow and support increasingly complex national security missions. His leadership will help ensure our technology remains secure, modern, and aligned with both our customers' needs and our long-term strategy," Sawchak said. Badhwar's priorities include strengthening technology capabilities that support SPA's national security customers, increasing efficiency and scalability across the IT organization, and ensuring that technology investments align with mission delivery, business growth, and acquisition activities. "My work at SPA will center on ensuring technology directly supports mission outcomes for our national security customers. That means strengthening security and resilience, simplifying operations as we scale, and advancing our cloud, data, and cybersecurity capabilities in a disciplined and trusted way," noted Badhwar. Badhwar brings more than 30 years of experience leading secure technology and cybersecurity organizations across engineering, defense, financial services, and cloud platforms. Start 2026 ahead of the competition with a paid subscription to IC News. You'll get full access to its searchable archive of 15,000+ articles, plus new articles each weekday.

WashingtonExec
Oct 10th, 2025
SPA Buys Group W

Systems Planning & Analysis has acquired Group W, a data science and defense analytics company that focuses on modeling, simulation and wargaming capabilities to the Defense Department.

EIN Presswire
Oct 9th, 2025
SPA Acquires Group W for Expansion

SPA has acquired Group W, enhancing its capabilities in mission-critical modeling and simulation for defense. This acquisition unites SPA's analytical insights with Group W's expertise in data science and wargaming for the DoD. The merger aims to create a leading defense modeling and simulation company. Legal counsel for SPA was provided by Sheppard Mullin and Morrison Foerster, while Stout and Holland & Knight advised Group W. SPA is backed by Arlington Capital Partners.

Intelligence Community News
Sep 15th, 2025
SPA to expand Alexandria HQ and Fairfax County operations

On September 11, Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA) announced a significant investment to expand its global headquarters in Alexandria and enhance its operational presence in Fairfax County.