Position Overview
Join us in supporting the National Space Defense Center (NSDC) at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO – the joint, interagency command responsible for detecting, warning, characterizing, attributing, and defending against threats to U.S. national space systems. The NSDC integrates DoW, Intelligence Community, commercial, and civil partners in unified space defense operations across the full continuum of conflict.
We are seeking experienced a Special Operations Forces (SOF) planner to serve as embedded contractor personnel within the NSDC. In this role, you will bridge the SOF enterprise and the space defense mission – integrating special operations capabilities, perspectives, and requirements into NSDC’s operational plans, Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) processes, and space superiority campaigns. This is a mission-critical, high-visibility role requiring deep SOR planning expertise combined with a working knowledge of the contested space domain.
Responsibilities
SOF-Space Integration Planning
- Integrate Special Operations Forces capabilities, requirements, and authorities into NSDC operational plans, contingency plans, and campaign plans supporting space superiority and space defense missions
- Develop Courses of Action (COAs), Concepts of Operations (CONOPs, and planning annexes that account for SOF mission dependencies on space-enabled capabilities including precision navigation, ISR, secure communications, and electromagnetic spectrum operations
- Assess and articulate SOF requirements for space-based support in contested, degraded, and operationally denied (CDO) environments, ensuring those needs are represented in NSDC planning cycles
Operational Planning & Coordination
- Execute planning duties across the Joint Planning Process (JPP) and APEX planning framework, developing and staffing operational orders, EXORDs, and fragmentary orders as required
- Coordinate across NSDC directorates, USSPACECOM, Theater Security Operations Commands (TSOCs), Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs), the Intelligence Community, and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to synchronize SOF-space planning activities
- Maintain situational awareness of adversary counterspace threats and their potential impact on SOF operation; contribute to Indications and Warning (I&W) products and threat characterization efforts
BMC2 & Command Support
- Interface with NSDC’s Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) architecture to ensure SOF mission requirements and operational sensitivities are integrated into command processes
- Contribute to space domain awareness products, operational overlays, and decision-support briefings for NSDC leadership and joint staff
- Identify and communicate SOF-unique characterization, authorities, and Rules of Engagement (ROE) considerations affecting NSDC operational planning
Exercises, Experimentation & Assessments
- Support NSDC Advanced Concept Experimentation (NACE) events and USSPACECOM wargames focused on SOF-space convergence, contested space operations, and multi-domain planning
- Develop and facilitate exercise scenarios that stress SOF dependencies on space systems and NSDC’s ability to defend those capabilities under adversarial conditions
- Conduct After Action Reviews (AARs) and lessons learned analysis; develop improvement recommendations for SOF-space integration processes, planning authorities, and capability gaps
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (strategic studies, political science, military operations, aerospace, or related field); significant experience may substitute
- 7+ years of operational planning experience with or in direct support of Special Operations Forces at the unit, command, or combatant command level
- Demonstrated experience with the Joint Planning Process (JPP), Military Decision Making Process (MDMP), and/or APEX planning framework
- Working knowledge of space operations, space domain awareness, or space-enabled capabilities as they relate to SOF mission execution
- Familiarity with Joint Publication 3-05 (Special Operations) and related SOF doctrine, campaign plans, and authority frameworks
- Demonstrated ability to produce operational-quality planning products – orders, CONOPs, COAs, briefings – and present them to senior and flag-level audiences
- Proficiency with classified networks and tools including SIPRNet and JWICS
- Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph required; #qinetiqclearedjob
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in strategic studies, national security affairs, space policy, or a related field
- Prior direct experience supporting USSPACECOM, U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S), NSDC, or a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC)
- Familiarity with NSDC’s BMC2 architecture, space defense operations frameworks, or counterspace planning
- Experience integrating SOF into multi-domain or cross-functional operations alongside cyber, electronic warfare, or information operations capabilities
- Understanding of Special Technical Operations (STO), Special Access Programs (SAP), or Alternate Compensatory Control Measures (ACCMs) in an operational planning context
- Prior military service at the O-4/O-5 level or higher with a SOF background (e.g., ARSOF, AFSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, MARSOC) or as a Space Operations Officer (FA40)
- Experience supporting or participating in NACE experiments, USSPACECOM wargames, or large-scale joint exercises
Pay Transparency
The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $180,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. QinetiQ US considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.
