Operations Research Analyst Intern

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. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM. SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have a near-term need for an Operations Research Analyst Intern to provide onsite support out of SPA's headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

Applications can be submitted and will be reviewed through 20 December 2024
• Interviews will begin on 18 November and continue through 6 January 2024
• Offers/decisions will be extended on a rolling basis following interviews

We are seeking highly motivated, energetic problem solvers currently attending undergraduate or graduate institutions to assist senior analysts, programmers, and researchers working to address some of the most critical issues facing the DoD today. The analyst will have a variety of opportunities to support OUSD (R&E), including but not limited to analyzing critical challenges to the Joint Force and identifying potential technology solutions, analyzing the DoD's funded technology and engineering investments, analyzing military capabilities and technology investments of foreign partner nations, analyzing global military and technology policy, and providing support to wargame execution. This individual will work as a full-time, in-person intern through the summer semester. Work with our multidisciplinary team to analyze complex problem spaces, including emerging technology, military systems, and financial analysis, as examples. Contribute to analytic products that impact senior defense leader decisions. Leverage and/or develop analytic software that ranges in complexity from simple, Excel-based analyst tools to robust military modeling and simulation in proprietary toolsets.

Required:

• Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Analytics, Systems Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, or related field from an accredited institution
• Demonstrated ability analyzing technical and non-technical problems by developing research questions, implementing appropriate analytical methods, and presenting results
• Interest and experience in using scripting languages and software, such as Python, R, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), JavaScript, HTML/CSS, C#, or SQL; code management (Git, Bitbucket, etc); agile software development practices/tools (Jira, Confluence, etc); and working in the Microsoft Office 365 environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated multitasking skills, and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• The candidate must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance

Desired:

• Experience and interest in any of the following:
  • Developing mathematical models to solve targeted problems
  • Data gathering, cleaning, and analysis
  • Modeling and simulation
• Possesses a current DoD Secret clearance or higher