Senior Defense Technologist

nou Systems, Inc.

$110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • US Citizenship
  • Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
  • Bachelor's degree in Operations Research, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related discipline.
  • 7+ years of operations research experience emphasizing mission engineering or operational analysis.
  • 5+ years of mission planning experience involving mission threads and operational concepts.
  • Strong familiarity with US military branches' defense approaches.
  • Proven ability to rapidly assess new technologies and apply insights.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct extensive research across multiple technology areas like AI/ML and missile defense.
  • Develop technical insights considering operational needs and constraints.
  • Evaluate new technologies for military applications and integration pathways.
  • Collaborate with MBSE and simulation teams to incorporate technology into models.
  • Engage engineers and planners to align assessments with operational processes.
  • Produce rigorous analyses for both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Provide thought leadership in multi-domain operations and technology trends.

Benefits

  • Competitive Wages
  • Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Company-funded Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Personal Time Off, Vacation, and Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
Full Job Description
We are pleased to announce the opening for a Senior Defense Technologist, who will join our Engineering Services Division in Alexandria, VA and become part of our rapidly growing technology company operating in mission engineering, missile defense, cybersecurity, test range modernization, biotechnology, and space control marketspaces. You will be part of a team known for conducting analysis on critical missions and will help identify concepts and emerging technologies to close capability gaps in support of the warfighter.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Conduct wide-ranging research and assessments across multiple technology areas, including emerging systems, fires, autonomy, AI/ML, sensing, weapons, C3, and platform technologies.
  • Develop cross-Service, cross-domain technical insights informed by operational context, CONOPS, CONEMPS, DOTMLPF considerations, and warfighter needs.
  • Rapidly evaluate new technologies, identify potential military applications, and assess integration pathways within existing or future force designs.
  • Engage closely with MBSE practitioners and modeling and simulation teams to determine how technologies should be represented, parameterized, and implemented within analytical tools and models (e.g., system-of-systems simulations, wargames, physics-based models).
  • Collaborate with engineers, program managers, operational planners, and Service representatives to ensure technical assessments align with doctrine, acquisition processes, and operational realities.
  • Produce concise, technically rigorous analyses for both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
  • Provide thought leadership across multi-domain operations, future force concepts, and cross-cutting technology trends.
  • Maintain compliance with all classification, data handling, and disclosure requirements.

Required Qualifications:
  • US Citizenship
  • Active Top Secret (TS) clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
  • Bachelor's degree in Operations Research, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Management Science, or related discipline.
  • 7+ years of experience in operations research with a focus on mission engineering, systems engineering, or operational analysis.
  • 5+ years of experience with mission planning and analysis, including the development or evaluation of mission threads, operational plans (OPLANs), concepts of operations (CONOPS), concepts of employment (CONEMPS), and defense systems.
  • 3+ years of experience collaborating with diverse teams including engineering, operational planners, and technologists to accomplish complex tasks. This includes interactions with the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Military Services, Intelligence Community, or 3+ years of working knowledge and experience with modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) techniques to support operational planning, system performance analysis, or mission design in defense contexts.
  • 2+ years of experience within the military or defense sector in areas related to joint operations, combat systems, research and development (R&D), science and technology (S&T), or mission planning.
  • Broad knowledge across defense technologies, systems engineering principles, and military operational concepts.
  • Strong familiarity with USN, USA, USAF, USMC, and Joint perspectives and how each Service approaches domain challenges, acquisition, and problem solving.
  • Proven ability to learn and assess new technologies quickly and apply insights within analytical or conceptual frameworks.
  • Experience collaborating with MBSE practitioners and M&S modelers; able to communicate technical details in a modeling-relevant manner.
  • Technical depth in at least one major domain (e.g., autonomy, electronic warfare, C4ISR, propulsion, cyber, sensors, advanced materials, weapons).
  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to distill complex technical topics for diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications (in addition to the above Required Qualifications):
  • Active TS/SCI.

  • Previous SAP experience.

  • Advanced degree in Operations Research, Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Management Science, or related discipline.
  • Experience transitioning efforts across the lifecycle.
  • Military Service Staff/Headquarters, Joint Staff, or similar level analytical experience.
  • Familiarity with model-based systems engineering tools and methodologies.
  • Prior work with campaign models, mission-level simulations, or physics-based modeling tools.
  • Experience supporting senior defense leaders with decision-focused analysis.
  • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced research environment while balancing multiple priorities.

Benefits of working at nSI

nou Systems, Inc. offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and diverse benefits that reflect our company culture of service, excellence, and a supportive work environment. Benefits may vary based on status but the majority of our positions include the following:
  • Competitive Wages*
  • Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Medical plan with Health Savings Account eligibility
  • Company-funded Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Personal Time Off, Vacation, and Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Norton LifeLock
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Personal Development, Technical Learning Opportunities, & Lunch-n-Learns
  • Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach

*Final compensation for this position is determined by a variety of factors, such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at nou Systems, Inc.

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Senior Defense Technologist jobs: