Junior Mission Manager

Location: Sterling, VA

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.

Nightwing is seeking a cleared Junior Mission Manager in the Northern Virginia area. This position requires work in a secure, mission-focused operations environment. Rotating shift work may include nights, weekends, holidays, and surge support based on mission requirements. This position may require travel as determined by the Customer.

Position Summary

The Junior Mission Manager supports the coordination and execution of sensitive intelligence, ISR, and collection operations in a fast-paced 24/7 mission operations center. Working under the direction of senior mission managers, this role executes assigned mission tasks, monitors operational activity, coordinates resources, and contributes to the delivery of actionable intelligence against high-priority national security threats.

The successful candidate will bring a foundation of operational experience, sound judgment, and the ability to perform reliably under pressure. This role requires the ability to follow established procedures, recognize when issues require escalation, learn mission tools and customer tradecraft quickly, and communicate clearly with analysts, operators, mission partners, and mission leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Support the coordination, resourcing, and execution of persistent collection operations supporting defined intelligence requirements.

Execute assigned mission tasks in a fast-paced, high-impact 24/7 operations center under the direction of senior mission managers.

Monitor operational feeds, collection systems, and mission partner inputs, and report changes affecting mission execution.

Coordinate with in-house teams, geographically dispersed elements, and mission partners on assigned tasks.

Identify operational risks, collection gaps, and resource constraints, and escalate them to mission leadership.

Contribute to time-critical recommendations by assembling and presenting relevant operational information.

Develop working knowledge of collection platforms, ISR capabilities, command-and-control systems, and mission-management tools.

Support all-source intelligence and collection workflows, including SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT, open-source information, and other relevant sources as required.

Participate in mission partner coordination in a 24/7/365 watch-floor or operations-center environment.

Build operational understanding of assigned targets, areas of responsibility, mission tools, and customer tradecraft.

Maintain mission logs, shift turnover materials, and operational records.

Assist in preparing assessments, briefings, and operational summaries.

Complete assigned training and qualification requirements and participate in team readiness activities.

Support domestic and international travel, exercises, or short-duration deployments as required.

Perform other mission support duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph, or ability to obtain and maintain required clearance and polygraph eligibility based on contract requirements.

2+ years of relevant professional experience, or equivalent combination of education, training, military, law enforcement, intelligence, or operational experience.

1+ years of experience in intelligence, DoD, federal law enforcement, military operations, tactical operations, ISR, collection operations, aviation operations, crisis response, or other high-consequence operational environments.

Exposure to sensitive missions, collection operations, ISR operations, or related intelligence operations in a supporting or team member role.

Experience performing effectively in a high-tempo or high-stress environment.

Familiarity with command-and-control tools, mission-management systems, or operational platforms, or demonstrated ability to learn technical systems quickly.

Experience working as part of a team that coordinates with other units, organizations, or dispersed elements.

Basic understanding of collection requirements, resource allocation, and mission execution.

Ability to work rotating shifts in a 24/7 operations center, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Ability to communicate operational information clearly through verbal updates, written logs, and shift turnover materials.

High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in intelligence studies, national security, international affairs, military studies, aviation, criminal justice, emergency management, or a related field.

Prior watch-floor, operations center, or mission support experience.

Exposure to mission integration, dynamic ISR operations, collection management, or all-source intelligence operations.

Familiarity with SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT, open-source information, or multi-source intelligence workflows.

Experience contributing to operational summaries, logs, or decision-support materials.

Experience supporting domestic or international deployments, exercises, or field-based mission requirements.

Valid driver's license and REAL ID, if required for site access or mission travel.

Work Environment

This role operates in a mission-critical 24/7 environment requiring rotating shift work, operational focus, sound judgment, and the ability to perform under pressure. Candidates may support nights, weekends, holidays, surge operations, domestic travel, international travel, exercises, or short-duration deployments depending on mission requirements.