Military Operations Specialist
The Military Operations Specialist is an entry-level role supporting the operation, monitoring, and testing of Unmanned Surface Vessel systems under senior supervision. Responsibilities include assisting with mission planning, real-time vessel monitoring, data collection, testing execution, and training support, while ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards. This position offers foundational experience in defense unmanned maritime systems with opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and professional growth.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Defense unmanned maritime systems.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
What You’ll Do
Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Military Operations Specialist to support Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) operations, test events, and mission execution. Working under the supervision of senior operations staff, you will assist with mission planning, real-time monitoring, data collection, and reporting to help advance operational capability and safety.
- Support mission planning, pre-mission checks, and post-mission breakdowns for USV systems
- Monitor command-and-control interfaces, telemetry, and payload sensor outputs during live operations
- Log operational observations, system performance, and anomalies for engineering and test teams
- Assist senior staff with test execution, demos, and RDT&E activities
- Coordinate with government customers and mission partners under senior oversight
- Help prepare CONOPS drafts, test-support materials, and mission briefs
- Support training events and maintain operator training materials and field documentation
- Follow safety procedures, maritime regulations, and risk mitigation measures
Responsibilities
- Assist senior operators in product and mission-support activities, testing events, and operational demonstrations
- Observe and document navigation, propulsion, communications link health, and payload data
- Execute contingency procedures under direction and escalate anomalies promptly
- Collect and organize mission data; support analysts in interpreting performance metrics
- Provide clear, factual field feedback to engineering for debugging and refinement
- Maintain test logs, reports, and organized data records for senior staff review
- Provide logistical and administrative support for fielding and training events
- Travel to test sites and customer locations as required (see physical requirements)
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, maritime operations, defense systems, robotics, or related technical field; equivalent military or vocational training considered
- ~2 years of relevant experience in defense, maritime, unmanned systems, or related technical fields; internships and project experience considered
- Basic understanding of maritime operations, vessel systems, or autonomous vehicle concepts; willingness to learn command-and-control and telemetry tools
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data recording and operational logging
- Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); exposure to mission-planning or telemetry tools is a plus
- Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain a security clearance; active clearance preferred
- This role may require access to ITAR/EAR-controlled technical data; sponsorship is not available for export-restricted work
Preferred Qualifications
- Academic or hands-on exposure to USVs, UAS, autonomous vehicles, or maritime robotics
- Familiarity with maritime navigation and environmental factors that affect operations
- Experience with defense RDT&E programs, coursework, or internships
- Prior military, maritime, or defense industry experience
Logistics & Physical Requirements
- Employment type: Contract; Full time
- Salary range (California): $80,960 - $121,440 per year
- Ability to work in both office and operational environments including shipyards, test ranges, and outdoor maritime settings
- Ability to stand, walk, and move in operational environments for extended periods
- Occasional lifting up to 35 lbs
- Travel up to 50% required for testing sites, demonstrations, and deployments
- Occasional evening, weekend, or extended hours may be required
Background & Compliance
- Position requires successful completion of a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with criminal history will be considered consistent with federal and state law.
- This role requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for ITAR/EAR compliance; candidates requiring sponsorship for export-restricted work will not be eligible.
- Confidential Client participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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