Engineering Operations Lead

General Overview

APEX TK is seeking an experienced Engineering Operations Lead to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures Program Directorate (DTT) within the Chief Engineer / Targets Systems Engineering Division (DTTE). In this role, you will serve as the central operational integrator and technical synchronization point for Targets Systems Engineering. You will manage high-tempo executive engineering rhythms, direct tasker operations through government systems (ETMS2), coordinate major lifecycle and governance baseline documentation, and orchestrate cross-directorate communications across Targets stakeholders, prime contractors, and partner organizations.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Executive Engineering Battle Rhythm & Operational Briefings
  • Targets Systems Engineering (DTTE) Weekly Staff: Manage end-to-end rhythm for weekly division staff meetings. Coordinate chart inputs, consolidate technical presentations on the portal, manage facility logistics, and deliver pre-brief packages to key leadership.
  • Agency-Level Integration (MDA/DE SE Weekly Staff): Coordinate, synthesize, and submit executive updates on requirements baselines, schedule changes, and technical accomplishments to the MDA Directorate for Engineering (DE).
  • Directorate Staff Calls (DTT Bi-Weekly): Aggregate and format Directorate-wide programmatic and technical status briefings for the Program Director and Front Office leadership.
  • Engineering Technical Reviews (ETR): Track, de-conflict, and report 30/60/90-day major target program technical milestone reviews across target portfolios to DE. Harvest and deliver post-review Executive Summaries to agency leadership within required timeframes.
• Tasker & Workflow Management (ETMS2 Action Officer)
  • Action Officer Operations: Serve as the primary DTTE Action Officer in the Enhanced Tasking Management System 2 (ETMS2). Triage, distribute, monitor, and drive timely closure for Congressional, OSD, and internal agency active taskers.
  • Classified & Sensitive Tasking: Handle, ingest, and route classified and unclassified tasker inputs across SIPRNet and NIPRNet repositories with strict adherence to OPSEC and handling guidelines.
  • Public Release & Media Requests: Process and facilitate Industry Requests for Media Engagement and MDA Public Release (PR) packages. Coordinate reviews with Acquisition, Legal, and Strategic Communications, drafting Staff Summary Sheets.
  • Annual Historical Summaries & Data Calls: Lead the annual DTTE Historical Summary collection and coordinate inputs for Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) data calls and technical conference attendance nominations.
• Systems Engineering Governance & Lifecycle Documentation
  • Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD): Serve as lead operational integrator for the annual DT Targets CARD update supporting the President’s Budget submit to Congress. Conduct kickoff alignments across project management shops (Logistics, Acquisition, Contracts, Software, Cyber, and IMTP Manifest teams). Consolidate classified and unclassified appendices, adjudicate comments via Form 100, generate Staff Summary Sheets, and shepherd packages through executive sign-off.
  • PESHE Program Maintenance: Manage biennial updates to the Programmatic Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Evaluation (PESHE) in coordination with Targets Quality (DTOQ) and Environmental Management (DSF).
  • Baseline Plans & SOP Governance: Oversee the review cycle, administrative accuracy, Form 100 comment matrix adjudication, formal routing, and publishing of core program documentation.
  • Data Management & Configuration Control: Maintain configuration-controlled baseline archives on designated agency SharePoint portals, DOD365 environments, and SIPR shared networks.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Active DoD Secret clearance (U.S. Citizenship required). Must be able to maintain clearance and access to classified environments (SIPRNet).
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical/scientific discipline specifically related to area of specialty and 10+ years of related professional experience
  • Advanced degree may be preferred at this level
• Demonstrated track record managing operational battle rhythms, executive briefing consolidation, and technical meeting execution for senior military and civilian leaders.
• Direct experience tracking and adjudicating review comments utilizing formal systems (e.g., DoD Form 100 comment matrices).
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition lifecycle documentation (e.g., CARD, SEP, RMP, PESHE, TEMP).
• Strong administrative rigor in routing executive correspondence, Staff Summary Sheets (SSS), and official action packages
• Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
• Working knowledge of task tracking systems (ETMS2 or similar DoD correspondence management tools).

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Technical Management, or a related STEM discipline.
• 12+ years of professional experience supporting DoD / federal program offices, preferably in a SETA, Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS), or Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) capacity
• Prior direct experience supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), specifically the Targets and Countermeasures Directorate (DTT) or Engineering Directorate (DE).
• Working familiarity DoW / MDA workflows.
• Experience coordinating across multi-organization teams including US Army DEVCOM (S3I), prime target hardware vendors, and national labs/FFRDCs.
• Proven ability to operate semi-autonomously, establish deadlines, and effectively de-conflict competing technical and programmatic priorities under tight turnarounds.