Wargame Designer (N) in Norfolk

Founded in 2007, SimIS Inc. is an innovative information technology solution Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) that models future environments, requirements, and capabilities, and then secures the enterprise from internal and external threats compliant with Federal, State, and industry standard governance to ensure client mission success. Our performance standard is “excellence,” with an outcomes-based, quality focus in our services and products, guided by our core values of honesty, relationships, teamwork, loyalty, and importance of others.

NATO HQ Supreme Allied Command Transformation (NATO SACT) is seeking contract support for the capture, development, architecture, data science and quality assurance of capability requirements and operational analysis necessary to adapt to future threats and explore long-term military strategy to shape how NATO's forces will operate in the future. To support our NATO customer, SimIS Inc seeks a Wargame Designer to support NATO Capability Development projects.

The candidate will develop or adapt the core rules, mechanics, and structure of the wargame to ensure alignment with objectives and constraints, including available time, participant numbers, classification level, and required outputs.

Experience Required:

• BS degree in security/defense studies, analysis or related field.
• 3 years of experience in wargame design, development or similar structured analytical design.
• Must have prior wargame experience within Multinational or Coalition military environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create or adapt core rules, mechanics, and structures for wargames aligned with specific aims and objectives.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or leading planning cycles, incorporating feedback to refine wargame products.
• Demonstrated experience working in multinational teams.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement and coordination experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Tool suite, collaborative platforms, and familiarity with visualization tools (e.g., Microsoft Visio or similar).
• Demonstrated experience preparing design briefs, validation reports, or contributing sections to final wargame reports and after-action report (AAR) documentation.

Responsibilities:

• Engage with the game sponsor, project manager, and game director to define the problem statement, aim, objectives, research questions, and intended use of wargame outputs.
• Research relevant doctrine, existing wargames (commercial and professional), academic writings, and lessons learned to inform design choices.
• Develop or adapt the core rules, mechanics, and structure of the wargame to ensure alignment with objectives and constraints, including available time, participant numbers, classification level, and required outputs.
• Design and produce physical and digital wargame components, including maps, boards, markers, cards, adjudication tools, and software interfaces.
• Coordinate closely with the scenario coordinator, analysts, and event planners to integrate scenario content and ensure venue layouts support compelling gameplay.
• Lead or assist with playtesting, rehearsals, and refinement cycles, incorporating facilitator and analyst feedback to ensure the wargame achieves its intended purpose.
• Prepare and deliver design briefs and validation reports, articulating how the design meets the sponsor’s objectives.
• Support wargame execution by helping facilitate gameplay, explaining rules, and troubleshooting design-related issues as they arise.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Short-Term Disability (at no cost to you) & Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Professional Development
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 11 Federal Holidays each year

SimIS, Inc. is an EOE / M / F / Disability / VET / Drug Free Employer.