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Canvas, Inc.

DoD-focused systems engineering, software, cybersecurity

Cost Analyst/Cost Estimator

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's
Redstone Arsenal, AL, USA+1 moreMore locations: Huntsville, AL, USA
In PersonOn-site in Huntsville/Redstone Arsenal; travel may be required up to 5%.
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • At minimum, a bachelor's degree in a related field.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • Recent and relevant experience gained from military or civilian service.
  • Proficiency with Department of Defense Directive 5000 series, Defense Acquisition Guidebook, Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, Truth in Negotiations Act, Cost Accounting Standards, and industry business best practices.
  • Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified workload in a high-optempo, detail-oriented environment.
  • Ability to participate in defining assignments, including identifying work to be completed and deadlines.
  • Ability to interpret regulations.
  • U.S. citizenship is required for most positions.
Responsibilities
  • Support a Project Manager and/or Product Manager by preparing or reviewing Life Cycle Cost Estimates, Independent Government Cost Estimates, proposal evaluation inputs, tasker inputs, spend plans, and other related cost inputs.
  • Communicate with technical, acquisition, resource management, and other functional leads to understand requirements before developing Independent Government Estimates for complex mission requirements, and assist contracting with cost reasonableness determinations and contract negotiations.
  • Execute Department of Defense cost estimating and analytical models to provide input and recommendations for design-to-cost, analysis of alternatives, independent cost analysis, cost reduction opportunities, technical and cost risk evaluation, and budget preparation for products and programs.
  • Advise functional elements on identifying and evaluating program cost factors and the cost impact of program alternatives.
  • Conduct analysis and provide recommendations to the Contracting Officer Representative and senior staff regarding prime contractor-submitted cost and performance reports.
  • Analyze mission requirements to determine cost parameters, specific cost factors, and relationships used to construct cost models.
  • Refine and adjust cost models in response to changes in technical specifications, support requirements, design alternatives, and engineering and operational trade-off proposals.
  • Calculate risk for trade-off analyses and other studies.
  • Provide programmatic support for formulating, developing, and assessing program and project schedules.
  • Conduct and document broad-based analyses and benefit-cost or cost-benefit analyses to support organizational planning and development.
  • Provide cost analysis to support budget planning, formulation, execution, justification, impact assessment, and reporting.
  • Develop and maintain detailed, automated cost models with excursions for multiple programs to assist with program analysis, planning, scheduling, and execution of funds.
  • Develop Work Breakdown Structure elements in various appropriation categories and their Cost Estimating Relationships and methodologies.
  • Assist with developing and reviewing pre-award Contract Requirement Package documents, including market research, acquisition plans or strategies, Justification and Approval documents, Determination and Findings, Performance Work Statements, Contract Data Requirements Lists, Independent Government Estimates, Requests for Information, and solicitation drafts.
  • Evaluate labor, travel, materials, other Other Direct Costs, overhead, general and administrative costs, and cost of money.
  • Assist with establishing long-range procurement objectives for requirements to be executed each fiscal year.
Desired Qualifications
  • Headquarters staff experience or similar Department of Defense program or project office experience.
  • Knowledge of the Department of Defense acquisition process and procurement regulations.
  • Experience collecting and analyzing information to assess cost, schedule, and performance associated with risk identification and risk management activities.
  • Experience using the Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tool.
  • Experience using Microsoft Excel.
  • Willingness to travel up to 5%.

About the company

Canvas provides technical services and engineering solutions for the DoD and other federal agencies. A trained team across systems engineering, software, cybersecurity, test and evaluation, safety and facilities engineering, and program management delivers technical and programmatic support to agencies like the US Army, Air Force, Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, NASA, and others. The company works by pairing expert personnel with structured processes to design, build, test, and deploy government programs, tailoring solutions to each program’s needs. Its goal is to help federal agencies achieve missions by delivering reliable systems and programs through integrated engineering, acquisition, and program management.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Huntsville, Alabama

Founded

2007

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Canvas promoted Daniel Cash on August 24, 2026, signaling aggressive business development.
  • Canvas added Megan Wilson Green on September 15, 2026, strengthening government engagement.
  • Canvas reported over 700 employees and continued hiring around TMAS 3 in 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Canvas concentrates on Air Force customers, exposing revenue to one procurement cycle.
  • Instructure-owned Canvas LMS breach spawned dozens of lawsuits in May 2026, damaging brand trust.
  • A subcontract-heavy model on Odyssey and TMAS primes leaves Canvas vulnerable to prime recompete losses.

What makes Canvas, Inc. unique

  • Canvas won TMAS 3 Air Force contracts totaling $847M on August 11, 2026.
  • Canvas paired test, engineering, software, and digital modernization across missile-defense programs.
  • Artinia’s 2024 investment and 2026 headcount growth nearly doubled Canvas’s execution capacity.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral Bonus

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 21%

1 year growth

↑ 21%

2 year growth

↑ 21%
Canvas
Aug 24th, 2026
Daniel Cash promoted to Vice President of Business Development.

Daniel Cash promoted to Vice President of Business Development. 08.24.2026 Canvas is pleased to announce the promotion of Daniel Cash to Vice President of Business Development. Daniel joined Canvas as Director of Strategic Planning and has since advanced into executive leadership, bringing extensive experience in strategic growth, capture, and customer engagement across the defense and national security community. As Vice President of Business Development, he will lead Canvas' growth strategy and customer engagement efforts, working across the organization to align emerging mission needs with the company's capabilities in test and evaluation, engineering, digital modernization, software, and mission systems. Prior to joining Canvas, Daniel held business development leadership roles at QuantiTech and Axient, where he most recently served as Director of IDIQ/GWACs. Throughout his career, he has focused on developing growth strategies, building trusted customer and industry relationships, and positioning technical capabilities against evolving Department of Defense priorities. Daniel earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Management Information Systems and Marketing from the University of Alabama.

Canvas
Mar 30th, 2026
Canvas named a Huntsville/Madison County Best Places to Work contender.

Canvas named a Huntsville/Madison County Best Places to Work contender. 03.30.2026 Canvas has been named a contender on the 2026 Huntsville/Madison County Best Places to Work list, an annual program led by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber that recognizes organizations committed to creating strong workplace cultures across the region. This recognition reflects the environment its employees experience every day. At Canvas, its people drive mission success across test, engineering, and technology programs that strengthen national defense. Canvas, Inc. invest in their growth, foster collaboration, and create opportunities to make a meaningful impact from day one. Being named a contender places Canvas among organizations shaping the future of the Huntsville workforce and community. Final rankings will be announced at the Best Places to Work(R) Awards luncheon this spring. Join Canvas, Inc. at the awards luncheon The Best Places to Work(R) Awards luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 11:30 a.m. in the Saturn Ballroom at the Von Braun Center. Canvas, Inc. remain focused on building a workplace where talented professionals can grow, contribute, and continue testing the limits of what is possible.

Gray Analytics
Jul 24th, 2025
Achieving CMMC Compliance: A Dual-Partner Success Story with Gray Analytics and Sentar

To address this, Gray Analytics collaborated with Canvas to develop formal policies covering each of the 14 CMMC control families.