Acquisition Analyst DCS Corp | Ridgecrest Salary Range: $73,160 - $95,000 Provide high-level technical and analytical support for contractual and acquisition functions. This role equips the F/A-18 & EA-18G Integrated Product Team (IPT) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) with accurate, complete, and timely information, leveraging critical thinking and independent data analysis to drive sound technical, contractual, and business-related decisions. Essential Job Functions: Conduct independent analysis by autonomously framing complex acquisition questions (e.g., identifying supply chain bottlenecks, cost drivers, or schedule risks) and applying critical thinking to execute data mining strategies that uncover actionable, lifecycle-focused insights. Perform data cleansing, integration, and synthesis to standardize and merge large, complex datasets extracted from disparate acquisition and financial systems. Analyze and interpret multiple cost/technical data sets to establish a single, reliable source of truth. Execute lifecycle modeling and forecasting by applying data analytics fundamentals and rigorous critical thinking to project future costs, predict schedule delays, evaluate programmatic risks, and manage configurations/updates for Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) tools. Create robust data visualizations that translate complex logistics, acquisition milestones, and cost growth data into executive-ready dashboards, tables, charts, and graphs. Ensure non-technical stakeholders can easily interpret these metrics to support business cases for medium-to-large contract packages. Manage, maintain, draft, and communicate Government Furnished Property (GFP) contract actions collaboratively using critical thinking, GFP policies and regulations, and Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) tool to ensure strict tracking and authorization standards are maintained while meeting technical schedule deadlines. Deliver evaluation assistance by applying critical thinking during the technical Evaluation Phase of contract actions managed by the COR. Conduct independent financial analysis and detailed reporting on contract and task order ceilings, funding allocations, and burn rates to support strict financial management and program cost control. Analyze Contractual Vehicle methodologies, participate actively in the Procurement Planning Conference (PPC) and Market Research, and advise technical personnel on strategic acquisition planning. Synthesize and analyze historical order, program data to draft, and optimize comprehensive Contract and Task Order Packages. Maintain and communicate technical contract action statuses and Program Management Tool (PMT) updates to ensure continuous cross-functional alignment. Job Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is required due to the sensitivity of customer requirements. Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 5 years (or a High School diploma with 13 years) of Program Cost Control Analysis, Defense Finance, or Acquisition Analytics experience. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Deep understanding of defense procurement lifecycles, milestone tracking, and DoD budget constraints, coupled with proven U.S. Government support experience. Previous experience in financial management and analysis reporting for Support Service Programs, with a heavy emphasis on program cost control. Demonstrated advanced proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, and advanced Excel). Demonstrated ability to think critically and work independently. Strong problem-framing skills, quantitative analytical capabilities, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Desired Skills: Previous experience with Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) development and tool configuration. Ability to leverage contracting fundamentals and funding policies for financial analysis. Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating programmatic and financial risks. Experience utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) to track cost and schedule performance.