Cyberspace Operations Planner - Junior

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If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

The Leidos Intelligence Sector combines technology-enabled services and mission software capabilities in the areas of cyber, logistics, security operations, and decision analytics to support our defense and intel customers’ mission to defend against evolving threats around the world.

Your greatest work is ahead!

The Intelligence Sector seeks highly qualified and trained Cyberspace Operational Planners to support Department of Defense Joint Planning processes that underpin United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) operations. Individuals will engage in Cyberspace Operational Planning activities supporting Leidos on-site contract support to USCYBERCOM J3 (Operations), Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and Joint Task Force-Ares (JTF-ARES).

This opportunity is in anticipation of a potential future contract award.

What you’ll be doing:

• Engage in approved plans development and staffing processes within collaborative environment to enable range of Cyberspace Operations (CO) according to USCYBERCOM planning guidance and applicable Joint publications.  
• Support targeting selection, validation, synchronization, and enable integration during the execution of activities within Cyber Warfare domain.
• Draft and staff foundational planning documents such as Operational Plans (OPLANS), Operational Orders (OPORDs), and Fragmentary Orders (FRAGOs).
• Support Joint Operational Planning Groups and Teams (OPG/OPT), and develop and integrate Cyberspace capabilities into plans.
• Develop concepts of support, courses of action, integrate command and external capabilities, coordinate and document comprehensive plans.
• Engage in, and provide situational awareness to, range of projects, Crisis Action Teams, and current operations activities supporting OPTs.
• Develop and review specific CO plans and guidance for integration into broader planning activities and to ensure that execution and resource allocation decisions align with organization objectives.
• Demonstrate knowledge of cyber threats and attack methods and techniques emanating from state and non-state adversaries and tiered vulnerabilities within Blue Space as focus of threats.
• Develop and execute comprehensive programs for assessing CO and validating operational performance characteristics.
• Review, approve, prioritize, and submit operational requirements for research, development, and/or acquisition of cyber capabilities.
• Develop and maintain deliberate and/or CO crisis plans.
• Analyze and assess internal and external partner CO capabilities and tools.
• Transition operational planning efforts to current operations.
• Navigate organizational structure as it pertains to full spectrum CO, including the functions, responsibilities, and interrelationships among distinct internal elements.
• Integrate and synchronize intelligence planning activities with operational planning timelines.
• Conduct long-range, strategic planning efforts with internal and external partners in cyber activities.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and guidance relevant to organization cyber objectives.
• Communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means.

What does Leidos need from me?

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and Polygraph required.
• Associates degree or higher within STEM field, National Security Studies, or field of study supporting operational art & science, or ability to complete degree within one year of hire.
• 2 or more years recent (since 2014) work experience as CO Planner: can waive two years of experience requirement for every year spent on a Combat Mission Team (CMT) in any work role; can waive two years work experience requirement for every year spent in an Offensive Cyberspace Operations planner role within a Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (JFHQ-C) command; OR four years recent (since 2013) work experience in offensive cyberspace capabilities development: can waive two years of experience requirement for every year spent on a CMT in any work role.
• Familiarity with military operations including phases of planning, approval, and execution.
• Intimate familiarity with applicable Joint Publications such as JP 5-0 Joint Operational Planning.
• Formal training as Cyber Operational Planner within Department of Defense or Intelligence Community.
• Broad knowledge of Blue-space Cyber capabilities and demonstrate understanding of available Cyber infrastructure or platforms to conduct OCO.
• Knowledge of the range of CO and their underlying intelligence support needs, topics, and focus areas.
• Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals as well as concepts, terminology, and operations of a wide range of communications media (computer and telephone networks, satellite, fiber, wireless).
• Ability to support timely, accurate, relevant analytical production, to include documents, summaries, issue papers, talking points, and briefings.
• Demonstrated proficiency working in a fast-paced collaborative environment, ability to proactively multi-task and meet short deadlines.
• Able to work across Department of Defense and Intelligence Community agencies to support organizational goals.

Favorable if you have:

• Bachelors degree or higher within STEM field, National Security Studies, or field of study supporting operational art & science.  
• Intimate familiarity with USCYBERCOM organizational structure and mission. 
• Prior experience supporting Joint operations across multiple warfighting domains. 
• Demonstrated experience incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into operations at any level to increase efficiency and effectiveness of operational outcomes.
• Experience with Space-enabled CO. 
• Joint Professional Military Education, Phase II (JPME II) graduate, or civilian equivalency.  
• Formal training within field of Cyber Warfare and Joint Operations.
• Completion of Service-specific or Joint Cyberspace Operational Planning courses, such as Army Cyberspace Operations Planners Course or Joint Cyberspace Operations Planners Course.
• Familiar with art of Data Science and applicability to CO.
• Familiar with Microsoft Power BI data visualization software.  
• Desired Certifications: DoD 8570 IAT Level II (CCNA Security, COMPTIA CySA+, COMPTIA Security + CE, GICSP, GSEC, SSCP).

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 3, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $50,700.00 - $91,650.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.