SME ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION

Most defense organizations can name the right strategy. Fewer can translate it into integrated force designs, staffed JCIDS documentation, and actionable senior leader products that hold up under Joint Staff scrutiny. The SME Analyst is the practitioner who closes that gap, operating within DoD and combatant command environments where JCIDS compliance and Joint Publication doctrine define the standard. Decades of relevant experience and the ability to communicate across GO/FO and O-5 levels simultaneously make this a distinctly senior, high-accountability seat.

As the SME Analyst, you own the development and staffing of defense planning products that align force design, information operations, or requirements documentation with national strategy and joint leadership intent. You operate within DoD client environments, coordinating across military services, combatant commands, and senior officials to advance capability development and policy outcomes.

Career Impact: Senior-level credibility in JCIDS documentation and force design positions you among a narrow tier of practitioners trusted to brief GO/FO leadership on defense capability priorities.

Business Impact: The planning products and working group outputs this role produces directly shape DoD investment priorities and joint warfighting capability, with consequences visible at combatant command level.

Growth Opportunity: Sustained exposure to Joint Staff processes, USSF corporate governance, and combatant command forums expands your scope toward program executive roles, strategic advisory positions, or senior DoD consultant assignments.

• Align force design documentation with national strategy, joint concepts, and senior leadership guidance.
• Develop and staff JCIDS documentation in coordination with military services and combatant command stakeholders.
• Support joint campaign scenario development and communicate findings to relevant USSF and DoD organizations.
• Capture and communicate force design dependencies and opportunities across joint, IC, allied, and interagency partners.
• Facilitate stakeholder working groups to coordinate planning, policy review, and capability integration activities.
• Conduct gap analysis across capability area designs and document critical dependencies and investment priorities.
• Produce senior leader briefing products and visual depictions of force design and operational content.
• Oversee Information Operations force development guidance aligned with Joint Publication 3-13 and joint doctrine.

• Bachelor's degree in a defense-related field such as National Security, Information Operations, or Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
• 8 or more years of relevant DoD or joint military experience, with demonstrated exposure to Joint Staff, combatant command, or service headquarters environments.
• Knowledge of JCIDS processes and documentation requirements, including staffing and approval workflows.
• Knowledge of joint Information Operations doctrine, including core, supporting, and related capabilities under JP 3-13.
• Familiarity with the Joint Strategic Planning System and joint training and education processes.
• Experience conducting requirements gathering, gap analysis, and capability documentation for defense programs.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills, with demonstrated ability to convey complex defense concepts to senior audiences.

• 10 or more years of experience in a SAP and/or SCI environment, reflecting sustained engagement with classified defense programs.
• Operational experience at COCOM or Joint Staff levels, including lead roles in material development or operational officer assignments.
• Systems of systems analysis background, with experience supporting Science and Technology advocacy within a military corporate process.
• Graduate degree in Engineering, National Security, or a related field supporting senior strategic advisory work.

• Force design products delivered on schedule against key DoD milestone events.
• JCIDS document approval rate, measuring how many staffed packages advance without major revision cycles.
• Senior leader product turnaround time, reflecting responsiveness to quick-turn GO/FO briefing requests.
• Working group execution rate, tracking the proportion of planned coordination forums completed as scheduled.
• Gap analysis coverage, measured by the share of capability area designs reviewed against joint dependencies.
• Typical tools: Productivity and briefing (commonly PowerPoint and Word); requirements and scheduling (commonly Project)

• Base Salary Range: $140,000 to $185,000 annually, depending on clearance level and seniority.
• Bonus: Performance-based bonus of 5 to 12 percent of base salary is common.
• Equity: Typically not offered in government contracting environments.
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across major defense contractors.
• PTO: 15 to 25 days annually, plus federal holidays observed.
• Common Perks: Security clearance sponsorship, continuing education support, and flexible telework arrangements where mission permits.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required, and employment in this role is contingent on eligibility for the applicable security clearance level. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. A background investigation is a condition of employment.

The SME Analyst owns the development of strategic-level force design guidance documents, aligning USSF force design with national strategy, joint concepts, and leadership intent across a complex space enterprise. Working closely with joint, IC, industry, and allied partners, this role shapes integrated force design products that enable senior leadership decision-making and advance USSF capability development.

Key Responsibilities

• Align force design with national strategy, joint concepts, and leadership intent.
• Capture and maintain USSF design drivers and support joint assessments and concept development activities.
• Support joint campaign scenario development and communicate with USSF organizations.
• Capture and communicate USSF force design dependencies and opportunities with joint, IC, industry, allies, OGAs, and other partners.
• Ensure integration across capability area designs by conducting gap analysis and highlighting critical dependencies.
• Support capability development activities and prioritize Science and Technology needs.
• Advocate for SWAC's policy and partnership recommendations within the USSF corporate process.
• Recommend investment priorities and document force design key performance parameters.
• Plan and execute force design integration forums.
• Develop strategic-level force design guidance documents and integrated force design products.
• Create visual and graphic depictions of force design content for senior leader communication.

Required Qualifications

• Master of Arts, Master of Science, or Master of Engineering degree required.
• 20+ years of relevant DoD work experience required.
• 10+ years of experience in a SAP and/or SCI environment, with the last five years in that environment.
• Aerospace and industry strategy experience, with joint experience at COCOM or Joint Staff levels.
• Systems of systems analysis experience and engineering background required.
• Ability to operate independently at GO/FO - O-6 level while concurrently leading at O-5 and below level.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and presentation skills with proven ability to convey complex information simply.
• Ability to work autonomously and interface with team members and senior leadership.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-starter capabilities requiring minimal supervision.

Embedded within a major DoD client environment, the SME Analyst delivers Information Operations guidance and oversight across force development, education, and policy aligned with Joint Publication 3-13. Working closely with senior DoD principals and multiple military services and combatant commands, this role advances joint IO doctrine and ensures coordinated planning and execution of information-related capabilities.

Core Functions

• Provide Information Operations guidance and support to a major DoD client.
• Assist with identifying assessment needs of information-related capabilities as described in Joint Publication 3-13.
• Provide updates to DoD and joint Information Operations and Joint Special Technical Operations policies, doctrine, and processes.
• Oversee Information Operations force development, education, and guidance to multiple military services and combatant commands.
• Assist with the coordination, planning, and execution of Information Operations working groups.
• Provide IO guidance to senior DoD principals.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Operations, National Security, Intelligence, or Information Technology required.
• 5+ years of experience working with Information Operations required.
• Experience working on or supporting the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, combatant commands, or other military service staff.
• Knowledge of joint Information Operations and Joint Special Technical Operations policies, doctrine, and processes.
• Knowledge of joint information operations core, supporting, and related capabilities.
• Knowledge of the Joint Strategic Planning System, including required deliverables.
• Knowledge of joint training and education processes, including Joint Staff J7 Joint Education and Doctrine.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project.
• Experience with requirements gathering, process documentation, and analysis.

Reporting to organizational leadership, the SME Analyst shapes financial planning and reporting by analyzing service level metrics, key performance indicators, and industry trends within a government healthcare context. Partnering with organizational decision-makers, this role enables data-driven investment decisions and improves forecasting efficiency through automated reporting tools.

Primary Duties

• Analyze data related to service level metrics and key performance indicators.
• Create financial models based on analyses to support organizational decision making.
• Develop financial plans and reports for organizational leaders.
• Analyze industry trends and make recommendations based on those trends.
• Evaluate capital expenditures and depreciation.
• Develop automated reporting and forecasting tools for more efficient use of data.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• Valid CPA certificate or two years of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or computer programmer analyst required.
• 3+ years of experience in government healthcare (Medicaid) financial analysis required.
• Thorough understanding of GAAP and auditing standards.
• Thorough understanding of methods of systems analysis and principles used in big data analysis.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.

Sitting at the intersection of naval requirements development and joint warship acquisition, the SME Analyst supports the OPNAV N95 and PMS-371 teams in developing and staffing JCIDS documentation for future amphibious warships. Operating across stakeholder working groups and senior Navy and Marine Corps forums, this role enables the approval and advancement of critical naval capability requirements.

Functions

• Provide support to the OPNAV N95 and PMS-371 teams in developing and staffing JCIDS documentation.
• Work with a collaborative team to define and document requirements for future amphibious warships.
• Facilitate stakeholder working groups and assist Navy personnel in obtaining approval of JCIDS documents.
• Provide ongoing assistance in meetings and collaboration in the Pentagon.
• Routinely interact with and brief senior Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• 8+ years of relevant experience required.
• Operational experience in the Navy or Marine Corps relevant to amphibious operations.
• Familiarity with the JCIDS process and JCIDS documentation, including experience developing or staffing JCIDS documents.
• Experience working in fast-paced environments and large groups.
• Strong communication skills with experience briefing senior military officers.