Senior Performance Analysis Engineer - Ground-based Missile Defense (MDA)

Mission Driven Research

$120K — $145K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in a STEM field with over 12 years of relevant experience.
  • Experience supporting Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) Programs.
  • Advanced proficiency in MATLAB for model development and data visualization.
  • Proficiency in Python, particularly with scientific libraries like NumPy and Pandas.
  • Knowledge of missile defense engagement performance and system operational capability.
  • Strong statistical analysis and simulation assessment skills.
  • Excellent communication skills for technical presentations to stakeholders.
  • Active security clearance (SECRET or above) mandatory.

Responsibilities

  • Perform performance analyses of GMD system using modeling tools.
  • Develop analytical methodologies to assess system effectiveness and engagement outcomes.
  • Design and maintain analytical tools using MATLAB and Python.
  • Conduct statistical analyses and sensitivity studies.
  • Analyze large datasets from missile defense simulations for trends and performance assessment.
  • Develop reports and presentations to communicate findings to leadership.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish analysis approaches and metrics.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on critical national defense projects.
  • Collaborative team environment with multi-disciplinary expertise.
  • Access to advanced modeling and simulation tools.
  • Regular design reviews and customer briefings to enhance professional visibility.
Full Job Description
MDR is looking for an experienced, team-oriented Performance Analyst Engineer to join our Huntsville, AL team. In this role you will support the analysis and assessment of Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) systems in support of Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The successful candidate will perform mission and system performance analyses to evaluate weapon system effectiveness, engagement performance, and operational capability across a range of threat scenarios. This role requires expertise in MATLAB and Python and the ability to develop analytical tools, interpret complex simulation results, and communicate technical findings to engineering team, program leadership, and government stakeholders.

Job Description (What You'll Be Doing)
  • Perform performance analyses of Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) system capabilities using modeling and simulation tools.
  • Develop and execute analytical methodologies to evaluate system effectiveness, interceptor performance, engagement outcomes, and mission success.
  • Design, develop, and maintain analytical tools using MATLAB and Python.
  • Conduct statistical analyses, sensitivity studies, Monte Carlo simulations, and trade-space assessments to support engineering and program decisions.
  • Analyze large datasets generated from missile defense simulations to identify trends, assess system performance, and recommend improvements.
  • Develop technical reports, presentations, and data visualizations that clearly communicate analytical results to government and contractor leadership.
  • Collaborate with systems engineers, modeling and simulation teams, software developers, and subject matter experts to define analysis approaches and performance metrics.
  • Support design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and customer briefings.
  • Maintain analytical documentation and ensure consistency of modeling assumptions and methodologies.

Required Skills (What Required Skills You Bring)
  • Master's Degree in STEM with + 12 years relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting MDA GMD Programs.
  • Advanced proficiency in MATLAB, including model development, data analysis, and visualization .
  • Proficiency with Python, including scientific computing libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.
  • Experience evaluating missile defense (MD) engagement performance, interceptor effectiveness, mission performance, or system operational capability.
  • Strong understanding of statistical analysis, numerical methods, optimization techniques, and simulation-based performance assessment.
  • Experience interpreting simulation outputs and translating analytical findings into actionable engineering recommendations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical analyses to government customers and senior leadership.
  • Active security clearance (SECRET or above) is required.

Preferred Skills (Desired but not Required)
  • Experience supporting MDA Element or System-level performance assessments.
  • Knowledge of MD architectures, kill chain analysis, threat modeling, and engagement planning.
  • Experience with Monte Carlo analysis and digital engineering environments.
  • Experience integrating AI/MIL into analytical processes.

Position Requirements
  • Clearance Required
    • Secret
  • Position Level
    • Principal
  • FT/PT
    • Full Time
  • Years Related Work Experience
    • 12
  • Education Level Required
    • Master's


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