Overview:
BAI, a defense contractor, seeks a senior Operations Manager with 10+ years’ experience to oversee technical and operational support for defense-related engineering, architecture, and interoperability within a NAWCWD research and development (R&D) project at Point Mugu Naval Base in Camarillo, CA. The selected candidate will act as the bridge between research and development efforts, oversee engineering implementation, and ensure alignment with government regulations while utilizing government-defined engineering processes. This position offers opportunities for career progression, excellent benefits, and stability in a well-established, employee-focused company.
Salary
The typical annual salary range for this position is $130,000.00 USD to $180,000.00 USD. Salary will be based on current qualifications, directly related experience, geographic location, and possible contractual requirements which could fall outside of this range.
Responsibilities:
10+ years of experience in technical operations management (Automation focus) and systems engineering for defense RDT&E and range programs. This role requires active cross-functional coordination and adherence to rigorous technical, safety, and security standards in support of BWI capability maturation, authorized event execution, and transition milestones.
BWI Operational Leadership:
- Serve as an accountable functional lead supporting the Contractor's Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), risk/issue/decision/action-item registers, and status reporting at the cadence directed by the Government
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Support Government-directed technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR), and transition reviews; and assemble and track associated review packages and exit criteria
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Identify constraints, assumptions, dependencies, and risks early enough to support Government decision-making and avoid event failure or schedule disruption
Engineering, Process, and Capability Maturation
- Serve as the operational bridge between research, development, and test activities to optimize rapid prototyping and integration of BWI capabilities
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Analyze current workflows, identify bottlenecks, and support implementation of engineering methodologies and tools to improve technical execution and event readiness
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Support requirements traceability, verification and validation matrices (VCRMs), interface control documentation, and configuration/technical decision-support records
C2, Range Operations, and Event Execution
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Coordinate scheduled-event operation and support of BWI C2 environments, range operations workspaces, and distributed control nodes under Government direction
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Support scenario development, instrumentation planning, rehearsal, event execution, data monitoring, and after-action reporting for Government-approved T&E, experimentation, fleet training, and tactical experimentation events
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Coordinate the application of range infrastructure, resources, and communications systems to support collection of required data from maritime autonomous system sensors and instrumented platforms, and support alignment of follow-on sensor and system engineering/test efforts
Telemetry, RF, and SATCOM Coordination
- Guide technical teams in the coordination and troubleshooting of LOS/BLOS telemetry, RF, SATCOM, and antenna systems supporting live event execution, including coverage, link margin, and data-routing considerations
Data, Cybersecurity, and AIDI Coordination
- Coordinate with data engineering and cybersecurity/RMF leads on developmental data environments, authorization packages, POA&M status, and vulnerability remediation supporting scheduled BWI events
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Support Government-led development and assessment of AI-enabled decision-support and instrumentation-decision-intelligence (AIDI) capabilities, including coordination of data quality, event data packages, and after-action data products
Range Interoperability and Expeditionary Infrastructure
- Support Government-led planning for temporary, modular, and expeditionary range infrastructure, and coordinate installation, configuration, scheduled event operation, and removal activities across distributed and over-the-horizon operating locations
Sea SPIDR / Instrumented Maritime Platform Integration and Safety
- Integrate Coast Guard, Federal, and State safety considerations into the preparation, deployment, and use of maritime autonomous systems during System Under Test (SUT) and/or Live Fire range operations of sensor prototypes and OEM products
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Support dock trials, harbor trials, sea trials, acceptance testing, and operationally representative demonstrations on Government-designated maritime platforms and support craft
Logistics, Supportability, and Property
- Coordinate with logistics and property leads on materials, equipment, spares, and Government-furnished or contractor-acquired property required for authorized BWI tasks and events
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Support configuration status accounting (as-built/as-tested/as-operated records) for systems, prototypes, and equipment where configuration affects performance, safety, or transition decisions
Team Resource Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration
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Lead, mentor, and coordinate across teams (subcontractor and BAI systems engineers, cybersecurity specialists, data analysts, and OEM product owners) to ensure successful delivery of development objective
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Serve as a primary point of coordination between Government stakeholders, technical leads, and contractor resources during authorized RDT&E and event-support activities, consistent with the non-personal-services nature of this effort; this role does not exercise Government supervisory, command, or inherently governmental authority
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Align technical operations with program objectives, drive efficiency, and support data-driven decision-making
Quality, Risk, and Testing
- Track technical progress, quality standards, availability/readiness, security, and compliance against the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) in PWS §12
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Review test readiness plans, milestone review packages (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), and performance evaluation metrics for critical systems
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Assist in validating interoperability and compliance through verification cross-reference matrices (VCRMs) and audit trails, and support timely delivery of associated CDRLs (e.g., IMS/status reports, risk registers, technical review packages, event data packages, after-action reports)
This individual will play a critical role across engineering disciplines and in interoperability between BWI capabilities, range infrastructure, testing, and stakeholder coordination — supporting an evolving, multi-customer RDT&E effort rather than a single fixed test program.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of relevant experience in technical operations management and systems engineering, with a focus of automation applicable to defense RDT&E and test range programs
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Demonstrated capability overseeing large-scale, technical projects
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Expertise in process optimization through innovative engineering methods, tools, and techniques (Automation)
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Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in regulated tabletop exercises, lab demonstrations, and at-sea testing of sensors or systems
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Deep understanding of government-regulated engineering processes and non-personal-services contract performance, including awareness of inherently governmental function boundaries
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Familiarity with maritime systems, including deployment and safety considerations (e.g., Range Safety & Coast Guard regulations) for at-sea SUT and sensor testing
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Working knowledge of telemetry, RF, and SATCOM systems sufficient to coordinate technical teams and troubleshoot event-support issues
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Familiarity with cybersecurity/RMF authorization processes (POA&Ms, continuous monitoring) sufficient to coordinate with cybersecurity leads on event authorization status
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Familiarity with data management, analytics, or AI/ML-enabled decision-support concepts as applied to test and evaluation data (AIDI) is a plus
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Ability to ensure technical compliance with configuration control, Government property accountability, risk management, and quality assurance frameworks
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Awareness of foreign disclosure, export-control, and releasability considerations applicable to authorized support of Coalition, FMS, or other non-U.S. Government-designated users
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Advanced expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
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Effective verbal and written communication, with the capability to convey technical and operational concepts to diverse audiences
Work Conditions & Requirements
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Work location: Primarily Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Naval Air Station (NAS) Point Mugu, with potential support at other Government-designated ranges, laboratories, shipyards, ports/piers, embarked/at-sea locations, and temporary expeditionary sites. Candidates must be able to work onsite.
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Work schedule: Adaptable to NBVC's 4/5/9 compressed work schedule policy.
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Remote Work: Permissible only with COR notification and approval per company policy.
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Travel: May involve CONUS travel, sea duty, and embarkation aboard Government or Government-authorized vessels to support technical and event-execution aspects of the project.
EDUCATION
Degree: BS or BA degree in Systems Engineering, Logistics, or a related technical discipline.
Allowable Substitution: 6 years of additional relevant experience.
CLEARANCE
Condition of Employment: Applicant must have an active DoD Secret Clearance. The applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
CITIZENSHIP
The applicant must have US citizenship at the time of application.
BAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other non-merit based factors made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.
