Summary

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This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, CA is searching for a Cost Analyst for SYD85/S8 (NH-1515-03, GS-12/13 equivalent).

Description:
Are you a financial strategist ready to make a direct impact on the future of our nation's space capabilities? Space Systems Command (SSC) in El Segundo, California, is seeking a Cost Lead to join System Delta 85, Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, and Space Intelligence. As a key leader on the S8 Financial Management Team, you won't just be crunching numbers-you will be a trusted advisor to senior leadership, driving the resource planning and critical program decisions that shape a dynamic, high-stakes space portfolio. If you are passionate about translating complex technical requirements into rock-solid financial strategies and want to see your expertise directly influence cutting-edge space acquisitions, this is the job for you!

Day-to-day, you will take the reins on planning, leading, and executing comprehensive cost estimating and financial analyses for large-scale, complex programs. You will serve as the expert in the room, partnering closely with program managers and senior leaders to develop the credible cost estimates that form the foundation for vital acquisition and budget decisions. By ensuring the seamless integration of cost analysis across the BMC3I portfolio, your leadership and expert advice will guarantee that our critical space programs are fully resourced, on track, and primed for mission success.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of developing, presenting, and defending cost estimates, financial metrics, and comprehensive budget analyses for large or complex acquisition programs. You excel in cross-functional environments, working seamlessly alongside program managers, integrated product teams, engineers, logisticians, and other technical experts to translate complex technical requirements into realistic, defensible cost estimates. Additionally, you possess hands-on experience applying Department of War (DoW), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and service-specific cost policies, methodologies, and tools to drive strategic program planning and decision-making. Educationally, you hold a degree in Operations Research, or you have completed at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics, with at least three of those semester hours in calculus.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of a broad range of operations research analysis techniques and possession of analytical abilities.
2. Knowledge of quantitative techniques and methods used to develop, adapt, modify and apply models to resolve problems or define and clarify alternative solutions.
3. Skill to negotiate and/or defend findings and program support concepts.
4. Ability to lead study teams and originate new ideas, projects, and methodologies; and execute projects and/or studies within established financial and/or time constraints.
5. Ability to develop and utilize appropriate data collection techniques, and design, build, and use models and simulation techniques.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; negotiate complex issues; and maintain good working relations.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S Citizen.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret / SCI security clearance.
Safeguards classified or sensitive budget-related information and/or files.
May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
Employee may be required to perform travel by military or commercial passenger aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
PCS / relocation funding is authorized.
This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP).
Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.
Must have a bachelor's degree, which includes at least 24 semester hours in quantitative analysis courses.
This is a Financial Management Level (1, 2, or 3) Certified position IAW the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2012, Public Law 112-81, Subtitle F-Financial Management, Section 1599d.
The employee must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.

Qualifications

The 1515 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. In addition to the above requirements, you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Required Documents

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number

Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended

Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
- Job title
- Detailed duties and accomplishments
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor's name and phone number
- Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
- Hours per week
- Salary, if applicable

Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.

Agency contact information

US Space Force Enterprise Talent Management

HQ.USSF.TalentAcquisition@spaceforce.mil

Address

USSF - Space Systems Command
1670 Space Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
US

Next steps

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

05/12/2026 to 05/19/2026

Salary

$104,349 - $161,313 per year

Pay scale & grade

NH 3

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Los Angeles County, CA

Remote job

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

1515 Operations Research

Supervisory status

Security clearance

Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process

National security

Financial disclosure

Yes

Bargaining unit status

Announcement number

SF-FY26-6S-NH-1515-3-SPLASH

Control number

868952500

US Space Systems Command jobs

Cost Analyst, SYD85/S8

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