Principal Subject Matter Expert for Aviation Electronic Warfare Systems
Company websiteamentum.com (Amentum, opens in new tab)
Base salary $130K to $180K
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Patuxent River, MD
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationPatuxent River, MD
- WorkplaceHybrid
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (15 min ago) · observed since
About this job
Amentum is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Principal Subject Matter Expert (SME) to serve as a senior program analyst and program management leader supporting advanced Aviation Electronic Warfare (EW) and Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) initiatives for Naval Aviation. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who excels at leading complex programs, coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups, and driving mission outcomes in a fast‑paced defense environment.
The Principal SME will provide strategic leadership, program oversight, decision support, and process improvement guidance while enabling the development, testing, and sustainment of automated test systems and electronic warfare capabilities used across the Fleet.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategic Program Support
• Serve as a senior advisor to government leadership, providing expert recommendations on program priorities, resource allocation, and long‑term planning.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through complex program challenges while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and Fleet needs.
• Shape program strategy, influence key decisions, and support modernization initiatives across EW, AEA, and aviation sustainment portfolios.
• Drive continuous improvement, leveraging data, stakeholder engagement, and industry best practices.
Program Planning & Execution
• Lead development and management of program schedules, budgets, acquisition plans, and resource forecasts.
• Coordinate activities across engineering, logistics, test, financial, and contracting teams to ensure program milestones are achieved.
• Identify program risks, constraints, and dependencies while delivering clear, actionable mitigation strategies.
• Support development of long‑range planning documents, program reviews, and key decision packages.
Data‑Driven Program Analysis
• Apply strong analytical skills to evaluate cost, schedule, and performance metrics across multiple EW and AEA projects.
• Build dashboards, performance reports, and executive‑level briefings using tools such as Power BI.
• Analyze variances between planned and actual results, providing leadership with actionable insights and recommendations.
Financial Leadership
• Track, forecast, and manage program budgets to ensure cost‑effective execution.
• Support financial planning, cost‑benefit analysis, and ROI assessments for modernization, sustainment, and test equipment investments.
• Provide recommendations to optimize resource utilization and drive financial performance.
Compliance, Process Governance & Documentation
• Ensure program activities comply with DoD acquisition policies, Naval Aviation processes, and organizational standards.
• Lead or support audits, risk assessments, and process compliance reviews.
• Maintain high‑quality program documentation for reviews, stakeholder coordination, and program closure.
Executive Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
• Prepare and deliver executive‑ready presentations, briefings, white papers, and decision documents.
• Facilitate communication between government sponsors, engineering teams, test activities, vendors, and Fleet operators.
• Build strong relationships and ensure consistent alignment across all program participants.
Tools & Systems
• Lead adoption and effective use of project management systems, analytic tools, and reporting platforms.
• Improve program efficiency through workflow optimization and automation where appropriate.
Required Qualifications
• 10+ years of experience Naval Aviation in electronic warfare systems, avionics, RF systems, or automated test equipment.
• Experienced leader in program analysis, program management, or acquisition support roles within defense or aviation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing project plans, budgets, and resource forecasts.
• Strong analytical background with experience evaluating program performance metrics.
• Proven experience preparing and delivering high‑impact executive‑level reports and presentations.
• Experience supporting or leading audits, risk assessments, and documentation reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
• DAU Level III Program Management certification.
Work Location
Patuxent River, Maryland – Onsite/Hybrid
Compensation Details:
$130,000 – $180,000 annuallyThe compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.
Benefits Overview:
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off and holidays
Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
Educational reimbursement
Parental leave
Employee stock purchase plan
Tax-saving options
Disability and life insurance
Pet insurance
Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.
Original Posting:
10/02/2026 - Until FilledAmentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.
Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.
Source: Amentum on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($130,000) is above 37% of the 105 Transportation & Logistics roles nationwide listed on this site; 6 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $131,841; the middle half runs from $120,000 to $150,000.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 8, 2026.
This listingPrincipal Subject Matter Expert for Aviation Electronic Warfare Systems$130K to $180K
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Engineering Resources Supervisor$130K to $150K
Counter Threat Finance SME (J6 - DIA/TFCP)$130K to $140K
Electrical Engineering Lead$130K to $190K
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Join Our Talent Network – Counter Threat Finance Analyst (Washington, DC)$130K to $140K
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Principal Subject Matter Expert for Aviation Electronic Warfare Systems (this listing) | $130K - $180K |
| Senior Identity Intelligence/Counterintelligence Analyst | $130K - $141K |
| Engineering Resources Supervisor | $130K - $150K |
| Counter Threat Finance SME (J6 - DIA/TFCP) | $130K - $140K |
| Electrical Engineering Lead | $130K - $190K |
| Cybersecurity Engineer (Cloud) | $130K - $140K |
| Join Our Talent Network – Counter Threat Finance Analyst (Washington, DC) | $130K - $140K |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-10-02
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: US-MD-Patuxent River
$130,000 – $180,000 annually
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.