Operations Research Optimization Specialist Job Listing at SPA in Alexandria, VA (Job ID 22202)

Description

Overview Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. Objective. Responsive. Trusted. The AUKUS, Submarines, and Industrial Base Group (ASIG), within the Sea, Land, Air Division, provides timely, objective, analytic assessments that integrate technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis to NAVSEA Team Submarine program offices and key stakeholders surrounding submarine platform construction. Team Submarine unifies submarine platform procurement activities, which includes the Columbia-class SSBN program (a Major Defense Acquisition Program and the Navy's top acquisition priority), the Virginia-class SSN program and the new SSN-X program (developing the next generation attack submarine), to bring improved capabilities to our undersea forces. Analysts and Engineers supporting Team Submarine will continue SPA's decades of support to the SSBN force, as well as supporting oversight of cutting-edge attack submarine construction, assisting in developing the design requirements for the SSN platform of the future, and helping plan and execute new and innovative strategies to strengthen the critical submarine shipbuilding industrial base. These are high-profile, major acquisition and manufacturing programs of significant importance to the future capabilities of the US Navy in an era of renewed strategic competition. #MC Responsibilities In this role, you will lead the development, refinement, and debugging of scheduling optimization tools that leverage advanced operations research methodologies. You will use these tools to provide relevant, objective, timely, and clear analytical support for program-level scheduling and industrial base resource allocation. These tools will facilitate both single and multi-facility scheduling scenarios that use integer optimization methods tailored to meet complex resource allocation challenges. You will take ownership of tool performance validation, ensuring robust solutions that address diverse scheduling constraints and operational scenarios for stakeholders. By collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, you will play a key role in integrating tool outputs into larger program resource allocation frameworks, with a focus on modularity and adaptability to varying operational needs. As a senior member of the team, you will provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff, fostering their professional development while ensuring high-quality contributions to operations research-related initiatives. Regular interaction with program stakeholders will be central to your work, requiring periodic travel to program-related facilities such as industrial bases, foundries, and client sites, where you will provide insights and ensure effective alignment during tool implementation. This position is based at SPA HQ in Alexandria, VA with some local travel to client sites in West Bethesda and DC with limited teleworking ability. Qualifications Required Qualifications: Master's degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, or a related field Minimum 5 years of experience developing and implementing optimization-focused models to solve customer problems, including using open source or commercial solvers such as Google OR-Tools, Gurobi, CPLEX, etc Proficiency with mathematical optimization including linear and mixed-integer formulations, models, and solution methods Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with strong interpersonal and communication skills Proficiency in Python or equivalent coding languages, with a track record of using them to implement optimization models Ability to travel (~10–20%) to program-related facilities and maintain direct engagement with stakeholders A current DoD security clearance (or the ability to obtain one) – minimum Secret, with the ability to maintain it throughout employment Desired Qualifications: Demonstrated expertise in flexible job shop scheduling and related task scheduling optimization methodologies Proven experience leading cross-functional analytical teams to deliver complex scheduling or optimization solutions Familiarity with government resource planning systems and tools that may interact with flexible job shop optimization (e.g., N-ERP, NEPS) Working knowledge of software tool development lifecycles, including modularity principles, debugging, documentation practices, and coding standards, e.g., Python PEPs Experience using task tracking and version control platforms, e.g. JIRA, Gitlab

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Master's degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, or a related field Minimum 5 years of experience developing and implementing optimization-focused models to solve customer problems, including using open source or commercial solvers such as Google OR-Tools, Gurobi, CPLEX, etc Proficiency with mathematical optimization including linear and mixed-integer formulations, models, and solution methods Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment with strong interpersonal and communication skills Proficiency in Python or equivalent coding languages, with a track record of using them to implement optimization models Ability to travel (~10–20%) to program-related facilities and maintain direct engagement with stakeholders A current DoD security clearance (or the ability to obtain one) – minimum Secret, with the ability to maintain it throughout employment Desired Qualifications: Demonstrated expertise in flexible job shop scheduling and related task scheduling optimization methodologies Proven experience leading cross-functional analytical teams to deliver complex scheduling or optimization solutions Familiarity with government resource planning systems and tools that may interact with flexible job shop optimization (e.g., N-ERP, NEPS) Working knowledge of software tool development lifecycles, including modularity principles, debugging, documentation practices, and coding standards, e.g., Python PEPs Experience using task tracking and version control platforms, e.g. JIRA, Gitlab

Responsibilities

In this role, you will lead the development, refinement, and debugging of scheduling optimization tools that leverage advanced operations research methodologies. You will use these tools to provide relevant, objective, timely, and clear analytical support for program-level scheduling and industrial base resource allocation. These tools will facilitate both single and multi-facility scheduling scenarios that use integer optimization methods tailored to meet complex resource allocation challenges. You will take ownership of tool performance validation, ensuring robust solutions that address diverse scheduling constraints and operational scenarios for stakeholders. By collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, you will play a key role in integrating tool outputs into larger program resource allocation frameworks, with a focus on modularity and adaptability to varying operational needs. As a senior member of the team, you will provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff, fostering their professional development while ensuring high-quality contributions to operations research-related initiatives. Regular interaction with program stakeholders will be central to your work, requiring periodic travel to program-related facilities such as industrial bases, foundries, and client sites, where you will provide insights and ensure effective alignment during tool implementation. This position is based at SPA HQ in Alexandria, VA with some local travel to client sites in West Bethesda and DC with limited teleworking ability.