Senior Defense Operations Specialist

Job Details

Job Location:

Blue Ops (FL) - West Palm Beach, FL 33411

The Sr. Defense Operations Specialist supports the planning, coordination, oversight, and evaluation of autonomous maritime operations and related defense programs. This role operates at the intersection of engineering, operations, and government customer engagement to ensure Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) systems are effectively tested, deployed, and sustained in support of mission requirements.

• Support execution of product and mission-supporting programs, including research and development, testing, and operational demonstrations.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to define program goals, objectives, and deliverables.
• Monitor project and mission progress; identify operational risks, technical issues, or schedule impacts.
• Implement corrective actions and process improvements where required.
• Promote collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing across operational and engineering teams.
• Provide operational guidance and technical support to team members as needed.

• Coordinate with government customers and mission partners to facilitate communication and manage operational expectations.
• Develop detailed mission plans to support testing, demonstrations, and operational deployments.
• Incorporate environmental factors, route planning, risk mitigation, and contingency procedures into mission design.
• Support development of operational documentation including Concept of Operations (CONOPS), test plans, and mission briefs.
• Participate in pre-mission planning, execution oversight, and post-mission debriefs.
• Exercise independent judgment when evaluating mission requirements, operational risks, environmental conditions, mission constraints and provide recommendations regarding mission execution and operational priorities.

• Oversee and coordinate the operation of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) during testing, training, and customer operations.
• Lead and guide operators and mission personnel during vessel operations and testing activities.
• Operate vessel command and control interfaces and monitoring systems as needed to support mission execution and operational oversight.
• Monitor live telemetry including navigation status, propulsion systems, payload sensors, and communications links.
• Maintain maritime situational awareness throughout mission execution.
• Adjust operational parameters in response to environmental or mission changes.

• Monitor vehicle status, system behavior, and operating environment during active missions.
• Respond to alerts, anomalies, or unexpected vessel behavior in real time.
• Execute contingency procedures to ensure mission continuity and platform safety.
• Document and communicate operational issues to engineering and leadership personnel.

• Execute operational test plans in accordance with approved procedures.
• Record operational observations, system performance, and test results.