Subject Matter Expert (SME) – Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C‑UAS)
Overview
The C‑UAS SME provides deep technical and operational expertise across the DHS C‑UAS lifecycle—requirements, policy/process definition, CONOPS, testing/validation, operational evaluation, and sustainment. The SME defines standards and procedures, develops performance objectives and acceptance criteria, validates requirements and deliverables, and ensures DHS mission needs are met across diverse operational environments.
Locations: Annapolis, MD, hybrid 3 days a week required in office.
Salary Range: $192,000 - $202,000
Responsibilities:
- Serve as the C‑UAS domain authority on detection, tracking, identification, mitigation, and operational integration.
- Define and maintain procedures, standards, and best practices for C‑UAS planning, deployment, operations, incident response, and sustainment.
- Recommend process and procedural improvements based on test data, mission feedback, and risk assessments.
- Translate mission needs into measurable performance objectives and acceptance criteria.
- Assure accuracy across SOPs, CONOPS, test plans, requirements, and TTPs.
- Support definition and revision of C‑UAS processes, policies, and business rules.
- Validate requirements and delivered products/services; design test cases and scenarios.
- Support the development of user documentation, training materials, and knowledge transfer artifacts.
- Lead issue resolution and participate in change control governance.
- Produce high-quality briefings, reports, decision papers, and technical evaluations.
- Lead cross-agency/Component coordination for operational events, tests, and deployments.
Minimum Education and Experience:
- Must be a U.S citizen with a valid secret security clearance.
- Bachelor’s in engineering, systems engineering, operations research, cybersecurity, aviation, or related field; Master’s preferred.
- 10+ years of relevant experience, with 3–5 years in C‑UAS or related domains.
- 5+ years working directly with C‑UAS detection, tracking, identification, and/or mitigation technologies (RF, radar, EO/IR, acoustic, fusion).
- Demonstrated experience writing SOPs, CONOPS, test plans/reports, requirements, and acceptance criteria.
- Experience supporting federal agencies (DHS, DoD, DOJ, FAA, ODNI) or critical-infrastructure operators.
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Required Qualifications:
- Experience supporting federal agencies (DHS, DoD, DOJ, FAA, ODNI) or critical-infrastructure operators.
- Experience integrating C-UAS systems into DHS component operations, SOCs, TOCs, or emergency command centers, special event security (e.g., high visibility, SEAR level events), and multi-sensor or multi-agency air domain awareness architectures.
- Strong background in requirements validation & traceability, designing test cases, test scenarios, and data-collection plans, developmental Test (DT), Operational Test (OT), and user-evaluation events, performance analytics (PD, PFA, latency, continuity, geolocation accuracy, Ao %).
- Ability to interpret complex technical data into clear findings, acceptance/rejection recommendations, and risk assessments.
- Experience conducting root cause analysis and leading issue resolution efforts with vendors, engineers, and operational teams.
- Knowledge of DHS C-UAS policy, legal authorities, and constraints, FAA airspace regulations impacting C UAS deployment, privacy & civil liberties requirements for sensor deployment, and DHS governance processes, change control, and configuration.
Preferred Qualifications
- Test & Evaluation: DoD/T&E Level I–III, Agile testing certifications
Location- For this position must be located in Maryland. Business Necessity may require travel up to 25%.
Compensation- Salary
At Fairwinds, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location and experience. Additional incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full time, exempt position.
Work Authorization/Security Clearance:
Must be eligible to work in the US.
AAP/EEO Statement
Fairwinds Technologies, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity