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Systems Planning and Analysis

Systems Planning and Analysis

Provides data-driven national security analytics

Military Partnerships Analyst

Full-TimePosted on 9/17/2026Deadline 9/17/27
$125k - $165k/yr
Senior
Master's, PhD
Norfolk, VA, USA
In Person

Fully onsite in Norfolk, Virginia; travel may be required for up to 30 days per year.

No H1B Sponsorship
US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A master's degree or higher 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; or attendance at a NATO or national military staff college at OF-3 level or higher.
  • At least 5 years of experience, including experience 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, military capability development, or military applications of operations research.
  • Experience drafting for or briefing senior leaders or decision-makers at the strategic level or above.
  • An active NATO or national Secret security clearance.
  • A valid NATO nation passport with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.
  • Ability to work fully onsite based on client needs.
Responsibilities
  • Support the Partnerships Branch in advancing NATO partnership objectives and HQ SACT's central coordination of partnership-related activities.
  • Coordinate partnership work strands, activities, Programs of Work, exercises, experiments, training, education, and engagement opportunities across HQ SACT directorates and branches, ACO/SHAPE, NATO Headquarters, partner nations, and relevant international organizations.
  • Develop briefings, point papers, speaking notes, reports, decision-support products, and Key Leader Engagement materials.
  • Contribute to NATO military partnership policies, directives, concepts, processes, and procedures.
  • Support corporate memory, knowledge and information management, lessons identified, document traceability, and quality assurance while ensuring compliance with NATO security, releasability, and information-management requirements.
  • Advise internal stakeholders on the strategic value, scope, risks, and opportunities associated with NATO military partnerships and identify opportunities for partner engagement across ACT work strands.
  • Contribute to policies, concepts, studies, reports, and military advice addressing the long-term evolution of NATO military partnerships and their relationship to NATO defense policies, cooperative programs, and transformation priorities.
  • Lead or support partnership-related concept development, including strategic engagement and out-partnering concepts, and contribute to related concept development and experimentation activities.
  • Integrate partner perspectives into long-term military transformation, strategic foresight, future force design, red teaming, wargaming, and Long-Term Military Strategic Shaping activities.
  • Conduct geopolitical, regional, and strategic analysis of partner nations and partnership frameworks within an assigned portfolio to inform ACT planning, engagement activities, and senior leader decision-making.
  • Identify ACT programs, experiments, exercises, studies, training events, and other activities that offer opportunities for partner participation and assess which partner nations may contribute to or benefit from those activities.
  • Capture best practices, lessons learned, engagement outcomes, key decisions, recurring requirements, and continuity information to strengthen branch efficiency and institutional knowledge.
  • Represent the organization at meetings, conferences, workshops, exercises, and other engagements within and outside NATO boundaries.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working within the NATO Enterprise.

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.