Senior Operations Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Obsidian Solutions Group

$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active Secret security clearance is mandatory.
  • Associate degree or 15 years of relevant military experience acceptable in lieu of degree.
  • Graduate of U.S. Army Special Forces Qualifying Course required.
  • Completion of military education programs such as Intermediate Course or Senior Service College preferred.
  • Prior experience with Special Operations Forces or relevant military branches is essential.

Responsibilities

  • Provide operational guidance for planning and executing training exercises.
  • Craft realistic scenarios reflecting operational environments and SOF profiles.
  • Advise leadership on mission integration and unit capabilities.
  • Collaborate with training teams to synchronize exercise resources and timelines.
  • Support the development of training injects and operational dilemmas.
  • Mentor units in real-time during exercise execution phases.
  • Conduct after-action reviews and offer recommendations for future improvements.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work with seasoned Special Operations professionals.
  • Engagement in high-stakes training exercises with direct impact on mission readiness.
  • Collaboration with various military and operational planning teams.
  • Potential professional growth through mentorship and advanced training opportunities.
Full Job Description
Primary Location: Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Clearance: Secret clearance

Ability to work remotely: No

Obsidian Solutions Group is seeking a Senior Operations SME to provide expert-level operational insight, planning support, and training exercise development for Mission Readiness Exercises (MRX) and other Mission Command training events. The ideal candidate is a seasoned Special Operations professional with extensive experience across SOF mission sets or related Army branches, bringing both operational depth and instructional expertise to support complex exercise design and execution.

Requirements

Responsibilities
  • Provide expert operational guidance for planning, designing, preparing, coordinating, and executing Mission Command Exercises and Mission Readiness Exercises (MRX).
  • Apply advanced knowledge of Special Operations missions, operational art, and joint/combined planning to exercise development.
  • Assist in crafting realistic training scenarios that reflect current operational environments, SOF mission profiles, and doctrinal requirements.
  • Advise exercise leadership on operational implications, unit capabilities, and mission integration.
  • Collaborate with planners, analysts, and training personnel to synchronize exercise components, resources, and timelines.
  • Support development and refinement of exercise injects, vignettes, decision points, and operational dilemmas.
  • Participate in exercise control (EXCON), adjudication, and real-time operational mentoring during execution phases.
  • Ensure operational realism and doctrinal accuracy across all exercise activities.
  • Conduct after-action reviews, develop insights and lessons learned, and provide recommendations for improving future training events.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of emerging SOF capabilities, mission command technologies, and modern operational trends.
  • Serve as a senior mentor to participating units, offering guidance on leadership, decision-making, and operational proficiency.
  • Ensure exercise activities comply with DoD, Army, and Special Operations training standards and security protocols.


Requirements:
  • Associate degree OR Fifteen years of related military experience (may substitute for degree)
  • Security Clearance: Active Secret clearance required


Special Skills/Qualifications Required:

  • Graduate of the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualifying Course (Officer 18A, Warrant Officer 180A, or NCO 18-series MOS)
  • Graduate of one of the following military education programs:

U.S. military officer intermediate course or Senior Service College

Special Forces Warrant Officer Advanced Course

First Sergeant Course

Sergeants Major Course

Minimal Background/Experience Required:
  • Previous assignment to Special Operations Forces (Special Forces, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, Ranger Regiment, SOA, Special Mission units) OR assignment within Military Intelligence, Logistics Corps, or Field Artillery
  • Equivalent assignments from other U.S. military branches accepted

Additional Desired Qualifications/Experience:
  • Minimum two years of experience researching, planning, preparing, coordinating, and executing MRXs


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