Senior Specialist - Systems Engineering, Joint Exercise Planner

Job Title: Senior Specialist, Systems Engineering – Joint Exercise Planner
Job Code: 45879
Job Location: Springfield, Virginia
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 NRO equities into joint, interagency, and coalition space events. The planner will work closely with NRO 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 NRO 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 NRO 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 NRO equities are incorporated.
•    Align exercises with NRO 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 NRO-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.
•    4+ years of experience in space operations, intelligence operations, or military/government exercise planning.
•    Up to 50% travel CONUS/OCONUS

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.


In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Virginia - Greater Washington, D.C. Area is $106,500 - $197,500.00. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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