Expert Cost Estimator and Analyst

This position supports a potential Department of the Air Force opportunity and is contingent upon contract award, final Government requirements, and candidate qualification and clearance verification. This posting does not represent an offer of employment and does not imply that a contract has been awarded or that any offeror has been selected.

IDS is seeking a recognized Air Force or Space Force cost estimating authority to serve as the operational cost method authority on a federal applied research program. This person adjudicates the analytical work: which analogs are valid, which estimating relationships survive scrutiny, how data are normalized, and what the results actually mean.

The role carries genuine authority rather than advisory input. No analog, estimating relationship, or machine-generated conclusion becomes an analytical product until this person records an approval.

Location: Remote or hybrid, United States. Occasional travel to the National Capital Region.
Clearance Type: Active Secret required at hire. Top Secret with SCI eligibility strongly preferred.

Essential responsibilities

• Serve as the operational cost method authority. Adjudicate analogs, estimating relationships, normalization decisions, and the interpretation of analytical results.
• Approve estimating methods and validation results before they are released as analytical products.
• Mentor and integrate with other weapon system cost estimators and analysts on the team and across the customer organization.
• Develop cost model architectures, estimating methods, benchmarks, and templates that customer analysts use to build life cycle cost estimates, independent cost estimates, and service cost positions.
• Lead the development of new cost estimating methodologies, including approaches that optimize data collection parameters.
• Collect and normalize cost, technical, and programmatic data from government sources.
• Apply documented cost risk and uncertainty practice, including probabilistic methods and correlated cost and schedule drivers.

Required qualifications

• Minimum fifteen years of cost analysis experience.
• Recognized expertise in Air Force weapon systems and demonstrated mastery of system specific programmatic and technical cost drivers across both the acquisition and operating and support phases of the life cycle.
• Recognized expertise producing life cycle cost estimates for defense weapon systems, and demonstrated mastery of deriving statistical predictions of cost and schedule from historical data and developing integrated cost and schedule estimates.
• Proven ability to develop new cost estimating methodologies.
• Extensive knowledge of the Defense Cost and Resource Center data collection process, and deep experience using and analyzing cost and software data reports and integrated program management reports or contract performance reports.
• Extensive knowledge of operating and support cost systems, including Air Force Total Ownership Cost and equivalent systems in other services.
• Mastery of data analysis and of developing advanced cost estimating methods and tools, sufficient to serve as a subject matter expert to others.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor cost research project teams to successful conclusions.
• Active Secret clearance. United States citizenship required.

Preferred qualifications

• Prior service at a service cost agency, a financial management directorate, a major command, or a systems center.
• Direct experience presenting and defending estimates to a cost review board or equivalent oversight body.
• Professional certification from a recognized cost estimating body.
• Depth in one or more commodities: aircraft, space and launch, tactical missiles, ballistic missiles, software, or operating and support.

This position is expected to pay $165,000 to $205,000 annually; depending on experience, education, and any certifications that are directly related to the position

IDS is committed to providing superior work in the fields of science, engineering, data analytics and technology to government agencies. We offer competitive compensation packages, including comprehensive nationwide Medical/Dental/Vision insurance programs, life insurance, matching 401k contribution and Educational/Training support.