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, a Confidential Client in defense technology and tactical communications.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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About the Role

Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Project Analyst to join a fast-moving Project Management Office (PMO) in San Diego, CA. This hands-on role supports technical programs by turning schedules, data, and status into clear information, tools, and decisions. You will learn Microsoft Project, Excel, analytics, AI-enabled workflows, project controls, finance, and the mechanics of program execution while supporting busy project and program managers.

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What You’ll Do

You will help project teams and leaders see priorities, risks, and progress, and you will build tools that make execution clearer and faster.

• Support project schedules so teams understand priorities, dependencies, milestones, risks, and progress
• Use AI and other modern tools to learn faster, build higher-quality work products, automate repetitive tasks, and improve PMO efficiency
• Build and maintain spreadsheets, dashboards, and analytical tools that pull data from multiple sources and convert it into actionable visualizations
• Create templates, reports, workflows, and process improvements for project management and project controls
• Communicate with stakeholders across technical and non-technical teams to ensure project data is accurate and complete
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and risks in project information and take initiative to resolve them
• Learn program mechanics including baselines, financial data, contracts, deliverables, and customer commitments

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Who We're Looking For / Requirements

This is an early-career, high-potential role. We value drive, judgment, and the ability to learn quickly more than a finished resume.

• US-only citizen (no dual citizenships) capable of obtaining a security clearance
• Demonstrated accomplishment of two or more long-term goals through sustained effort (suitable as an alternative to formal college)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and strong organizational habits
• Ability to manage multiple tasks without losing track of details
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to figure things out with limited direction
• Willingness to work in a technical environment and proactively close knowledge gaps
• Excited to use modern tools, including AI, to learn, automate, analyze, and improve

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience in any of the following is helpful but not required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Prior use of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, Power BI, or Tableau
• Experience building dashboards, reports, automations, templates, or analytical tools
• Prior exposure to project controls, PMO workflows, or supporting complex teams

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Why This Role Matters

Projects succeed when information is visible, schedules are understood, risks are surfaced, and actions are tracked. As a Project Analyst you enable those outcomes — making project managers more effective, technical teams more coordinated, and leaders able to make better decisions.

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Career Growth

This entry-level role is a launchpad into high-value career paths. On the job you will gain practical experience that can lead to:

• Project / Program Management
• Project Controls
• Business Operations
• Data & Business Analytics
• Finance or Contracts
• Operations Management
• Leadership roles in technical programs

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Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $65,000 - $100,000 per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision (employee coverage fully funded; partial dependent coverage funded)
• 11 paid federal holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO): date of hire through second year: 10 days/year (accrued); after two years: unlimited
• 40 hours paid sick leave per year
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Annual bonuses
• Cell phone reimbursement: $100/month

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Application Prompt

Before applying, please read A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard.

In your application, include a short response to this prompt: “Describe a time when you were given an ambiguous task, had to learn something new, and delivered the outcome without step-by-step direction. What did you do, and what was the result?”

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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.