Lead Targeting Officer

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.
401(k)
United States, Virginia, Arlington
Sep 24, 2025
The Lead Targeting Officer serves as the senior subject matter expert and team leader responsible for developing, validating, and managing targeting strategies, processes, and products in support of national defense and intelligence objectives. This position integrates operational planning, intelligence analysis, and interagency coordination to identify, prioritize, and enable effects against adversary capabilities, networks, and systems across all domains. The officer ensures compliance with legal, policy, and rules-of-engagement frameworks while synchronizing targeting operations with broader campaign objectives. The role will ensure that commanders and policymakers are equipped with precise, actionable, and legally compliant targeting solutions that directly enable national security objectives. This role is critical to aligning intelligence, operations, and strategy to deny adversaries freedom of action and impose costs across the spectrum of competition and conflict. Other Duties Include; Lead and supervise a team of targeting officers, analysts, and technical specialists. Serve as the primary advisor to senior leadership on targeting strategies, methodologies, and priorities. Establish standards, workflows, and quality controls for targeting products and assessments. Target Development & Analysis Direct the identification, development, and maintenance of target system analyses, target folders, and weaponeering/force application recommendations. Integrate multi-source intelligence, operational reporting, and advanced analytic tools to assess target value, vulnerability, and desired effects. Validate target nominations against command, national, and coalition priorities. Support the joint targeting cycle, integrating planning, collection, exploitation, and assessment. Collaborate with planners, operators, intelligence community elements, and interagency partners to synchronize effects across kinetic and non-kinetic domains. Ensure targeting recommendations are consistent with commander's intent, law of armed conflict, and established rules of engagement. Lead battle damage assessment (BDA), effects-based analysis, and post-strike evaluations. Provide risk assessments on collateral damage, escalation, and unintended consequences. Update targeting methodologies based on operational outcomes and lessons learned. Ensure targeting processes adhere to U.S. law, DoD policy, and intelligence oversight requirements. Implement best practices in information security, classification management, and compartmented program handling. Required Qualifications: 20+ years of experience in targeting, intelligence, or operational planning within DoD, IC, or allied organizations. Demonstrated expertise in the Joint Targeting Cycle, target system analysis, and multi-domain operations. Deep understanding of operational law, LOAC, ROE, and policy constraints. Proven ability to lead teams in high-tempo, sensitive, or classified environments. Proficiency in intelligence systems, databases, and targeting toolsets. Desired Qualifications: Joint or interagency staff experience at the operational or strategic level. Advanced degree in international relations, security studies, or related field. Experience supporting special operations, clandestine, or non-kinetic targeting. Formal joint targeting, intelligence, or operational planning certifications (e.g., JTC, JIPOE, Joint Fires). Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree in a related field. Clearance requirement: Must have a current TS/SCI clearance and be eligible for special program access #mtsi #100esop #defenddifferently #LI-LS1 Interesting Work: Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security. Values: Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry. 100% Employee Owned: We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year. Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for: Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/year Flexible schedules 6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annually Semi-annual bonus eligibility (July and December) Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement account Up to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursement Other company funded benefits, like life and disability insurance Optional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance plan Track Record of Success: We have grown every year since our founding in 1993. Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission Assurance MTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide. For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com MTSI embraces nine core values including our first core value of Employees come first. Consistent with our Core Values, we are committed to Equal Opportunity, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, military/veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. MTSI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with physical and/or mental disabilities.