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Systems Planning and Analysis

Systems Planning and Analysis

Provides data-driven national security analytics

Military Partnerships Analyst

Full-TimeDeadline 9/12/27
$125k - $165k/yr
Mid
Master's
Norfolk, VA, USA
In Person

Fully on-site in Norfolk, Virginia; travel for meetings, conferences, workshops, exercises, and engagements may be required for up to 30 days per year.

No H1B Sponsorship
UK Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A master's degree in international relations, international security, international development, military studies including military technology or operations research, foreign policy, public affairs, political science, or a related discipline; alternatively, attendance at a NATO or national military staff college at OF-3 level or higher.
  • Experience working in foreign or international security, international cooperation, defense, or military affairs.
  • Experience working within the NATO Enterprise, another defense- or security-related international organization, or a national mission, delegation, or embassy to an international organization in a defense- or security-related position.
  • Working knowledge of NATO partnerships, security sector reform, defense and security capacity building, defense planning, or military capability development and military applications of operations research.
  • Experience drafting for or briefing senior leaders and decision makers at the strategic level or above.
  • Active NATO or national SECRET security clearance.
  • A valid passport from a NATO nation with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.
  • Ability to work fully on-site based on client needs.
Responsibilities
  • Contribute to the activities, outputs, coordination requirements, and battle rhythm of the Partnerships Branch in support of NATO partnership objectives.
  • Support the Partnerships Branch as the HQ SACT central point of contact for partnerships-related work strands.
  • Coordinate with HQ SACT directorates, branches, JJJJs, ACO/SHAPE, NATO Headquarters, partner nations, and relevant international organizations.
  • Contribute to developing and delivering briefings, point papers, speaking notes, reports, decision-support products, and other staff work for senior officers, decision makers, working groups, and external engagements related to partnerships.
  • Contribute to the development, review, refinement, and implementation of policies, directives, concepts, processes, and procedures related to NATO military partnerships, including support to Bi-SC and ACT-level taskings.
  • Support the identification, coordination, and tracking of ACT activities, programs of work, exercises, experiments, training, education, and engagement opportunities open to partners.
  • Ensure coherence of messaging and alignment with NATO and ACT priorities.
  • Support the maintenance of corporate memory, information and knowledge management, lessons identified, document traceability, and quality assurance mechanisms for Partnerships Branch activities.
  • Coordinate partnership activities, documentation, and information-sharing considerations in accordance with applicable NATO security, releasability, and information-management requirements.
  • Support key leader engagement preparation and execution, including background papers, engagement strategies, read-ahead material, talking points, engagement reports, and follow-up actions.
  • Perform additional tasks as required by the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative related to the labor category and within the scope of Partnerships Branch responsibilities.
  • Travel to meetings, conferences, workshops, exercises, and other engagements within and outside NATO boundaries for up to 30 days per year.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working within the NATO Enterprise is preferred.
  • Experience drafting for or briefing senior leaders and decision makers at the strategic level or above is ideal.

About the company

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's Take

What believers are saying

  • SPA won a $151 million DARPA I2O SETA contract in January 2026.
  • Virginia approved SPA’s $46.9 million expansion, targeting 1,200 jobs by 2030.
  • SPA expanded into OUSW R&E in March 2026, broadening beyond naval work.

What critics are saying

  • SPA depends on federal defense budgets, with NNSA and DARPA contracts dominating 2026 growth.
  • Arlington Capital’s ownership pressures SPA for bolt-on acquisitions, integration, and margin discipline.
  • Losing TRIDENT support would gut SPA’s legacy moat and trigger cascading contract losses.

What makes Systems Planning and Analysis unique

  • SPA owns deep Navy Strategic Systems Programs roots, including 2026 Trident II support renewals.
  • Its 2026 fellows program formalizes elite expertise in AI, cloud, and wargaming.
  • Raj Badhwar’s CIO mandate links secure enterprise IT to mission delivery and acquisitions.

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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

27%

1 year growth

27%

2 year growth

27%
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.