Freelance Operations Research Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

JRAD is seeking candidates for an upcoming Operations Research Analyst (Journeyman) position supporting the U.S. Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Detachment 6 (DET 6) – Fighter Test Services (FTS). This position is located at Nellis AFB, NV.

The Operations Research Analyst (Journeyman) applies advanced analytical methods, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and simulation techniques to support operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of fighter aircraft systems under the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) Detachment 6 Fighter Test Services contract.

Performs quantitative and qualitative analyses of operational test data derived from live flight test, distributed test environments, and the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE). Develops and implements models, simulations, and analytical tools to evaluate system effectiveness, suitability, survivability, and mission performance in representative operational conditions.

Supports all phases of the OT&E lifecycle, including test planning, execution, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Provides decision-quality insights to government test leadership and contributes to formal evaluation reports and acquisition decision support.

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Apply operations research techniques, including statistical analysis, optimization, simulation, and forecasting, to evaluate system performance in operational environments
• Develop, execute, and validate analytical models and simulations supporting mission-level and campaign-level assessments
• Analyze large, complex datasets from multiple sources (e.g., flight test telemetry, simulation outputs, mission logs) to identify trends, anomalies, and performance drivers
• Support development of test plans, test designs, and evaluation criteria aligned with OT&E objectives
• Conduct trade studies, sensitivity analyses, and risk assessments to inform system performance and operational effectiveness
• Develop data visualization products, dashboards, and briefing materials to communicate analytical findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Integrate data from distributed test environments and ensure consistency, traceability, and data integrity across analysis products
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including test engineers, systems engineers, intelligence analysts, and operational subject matter experts
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, and briefings in accordance with government standards and contract requirements
• Provide analytical support during test execution, including near-real-time data assessment and post-mission analysis
• Ensure compliance with applicable security, data handling, and information assurance requirements

Required Skills and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related quantitative discipline
• 3 or more years of relevant professional experience in operations research, data analysis, modeling and simulation, or related analytical fields
• Experience supporting operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities within AFOTEC or similar test organizations
• Familiarity with fighter aircraft systems (e.g., F-35, F-16, F-15, F-22) and air combat operations
• Experience with Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) or distributed test architectures
• Experience with data engineering, data pipelines, or cloud-based analytics platforms
• Experience applying quantitative analysis methods to complex technical or operational problems
• Familiarity with the following tools and technologies: programming languages – Python, R, MATLAB; data analysis tools – SQL, Excel, statistical packages; visualization tools - Tableau, Power BI or equivalent; modeling and simulation frameworks and analytical software tools

Security Clearance:

• Active Secret clearance required; Top Secret/SCI preferred

When you work for JRAD you will never be just a number. We put people before profits!

JRAD is committed to the health and well-being of its employees. We offer more paid time off than the average company upon hire and the following benefits are available to all full-time employees:

• Health Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

• Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts for unreimbursed medical & dependent day care

• Disability Insurance

• 401K Plan

• Tuition Reimbursement

JRAD is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The JRAD salary range for this position is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. There are many factors considered when determining the compensation provided in an offer. These factors include, but are not limited to position responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and contract terms and conditions.

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