1. How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a weapon system?
I assess effectiveness through metrics like Probability of Kill (P<sub>k</sub>), system reliability (MTBF), and mission-specific operational testing. Modeling tools such as AFSIM simulate engagement scenarios, while field data validates performance against threats like maneuvering hypersonic vehicles. Final evaluations align with JCIDS criteria and MIL-STD-3013 for lethality benchmarks.
Deeper Questions
- How do you adjust P<sub>k</sub> calculations for electronic warfare environments?
- What statistical methods validate simulation accuracy against live-fire tests?
- Describe challenges in quantifying effectiveness against asymmetric threats.
2. Describe your process for integrating new technologies into legacy systems.
I conduct capability gap analyses using DoDAF frameworks to identify retrofit opportunities. Modular open-system architectures (MOSA) like SOSA enable phased integration of components like AESA radars. Interoperability is tested via MIL-STD-1553/1773 protocols, with backward compatibility verified through hardware-in-the-loop simulations.
Deeper Questions
- How do you manage legacy software dependency risks?
- What tools assess electromagnetic compatibility during integration?
- Explain lifecycle cost tradeoffs for subsystem modernization.
3. Outline your threat assessment process for missile defense systems.
I model threat trajectories using Lambert solutions and Monte Carlo simulations for probabilistic kill chains. Sensor fusion algorithms correlate data from SBIRS, radar, and cyber indicators to classify threats. Assessments follow MDA’s BMDS-level specifications, prioritizing countermeasures against advanced penetration aids.
Deeper Questions
- How do you account for adversarial AI in threat modeling?
- What metrics quantify radar cross-section spoofing risks?
- Compare kinetic vs. non-kinetic interception cost models.
4. What key metrics do you track for system reliability?
I monitor Mean Time Between Critical Failures (MTBCF), No-Fault-Found (NFF) rates, and maintenance downtime per MIL-HDBK-217. Environmental stress screening (ESS) identifies latent defects, while FRACAS data drives reliability growth modeling. Field data is analyzed using Weibull distributions to predict wear-out phases.
Deeper Questions
- How do you implement FRACAS for multi-vendor systems?
- Compare HALT vs. HASS effectiveness for electronics.
- What corrosion mitigation strategies impact reliability metrics?
5. How do you use modeling tools to predict system performance?
I employ MATLAB/Simulink for control system analysis and STK for orbital engagement modeling. High-fidelity CFD in ANSYS Fluent optimizes aerothermal performance for hypersonic systems. Verification uses DoD’s VV&A standards, with sensitivity analyses to identify critical failure paths.
Deeper Questions
- How do you determine mesh fidelity for blast effect simulations?
- What frameworks validate AI/ML model predictions?
- Explain co-simulation challenges for multi-physics systems.
6. Describe your approach to lifecycle cost-benefit analysis.
I use Activity-Based Costing (ABC) with SEER-HLS for sustainment forecasting and NPV calculations for upgrade alternatives. Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) risks are quantified via Should-Cost models. Results align with DoD 5000.04 guidelines, prioritizing capabilities with >15% ROI over 20-year horizons.
Deeper Questions
- How do geopolitical risks influence cost models?
- What tools analyze obsolescence cascades?
- Compare CAIV vs. NAF cost methodologies.
7. How do you address component obsolescence in long-term systems?
I implement proactive obsolescence monitoring using Q-Star and IHS Haystack Gold. Redesigns leverage FPGA-based replacements with VHDL rehosting of legacy code. Lifetime buy decisions are optimized via stochastic inventory models constrained by DFARS regulations.
Deeper Questions
- What standards govern counterfeit part mitigation?
- How do you validate form-fit-function replacements?
- Explain COTS refresh cycle challenges.
8. How do you assess cybersecurity vulnerabilities in networked systems?
I conduct attack surface analysis per NIST SP 800-53, focusing on attack trees for Link 16 and TTNT datalinks. Penetration testing uses Kali Linux tools to exploit vulnerabilities like unauthenticated S-record updates. Risk scoring follows RMF guidelines, with mitigations like zero-trust architecture for PNT systems.
Deeper Questions
- How do you harden legacy MIL-STD-1553 buses?
- What red team tactics test system-of-systems vulnerabilities?
- Compare AES-256 vs. quantum-resistant encryption tradeoffs.
9. What interoperability challenges arise in joint force systems?
I resolve waveform conflicts between MADL and IFDL via software-defined radios tested in JENM facilities. Time synchronization issues are mitigated using SAASM GPS with M-code. Testing follows CJCSI 3170.01H, ensuring compatibility across ≥3 service branches.
Deeper Questions
- How do you validate Link 16 message translation accuracy?
- What latency thresholds break sensor-to-shooter loops?
- Explain security risks in coalition data sharing.
10. How do you analyze performance degradation in fielded systems?
I employ HUMS data with Kalman filtering to detect bearing wear in rotary launchers. Infrared thermography identifies aging power supplies, while BIT false alarm rates are tracked via Poisson regression. Degradation models inform PHM systems using OSATE open-source tools.
Deeper Questions
- What sensors best detect composite material fatigue?
- How do sand erosion models affect maintenance cycles?
- Compare vibration analysis techniques for mobile platforms.
11. What ethical considerations guide your analysis of autonomous systems?
I adhere to DoD Directive 3000.09 requirements for human judgment retention in lethal decisions. Bias audits assess targeting algorithms using SHAP values, while kill chain analyses verify proportionality per LOAC. All recommendations undergo DIB ethics board review.
Deeper Questions
- How do you audit neural networks for protected class bias?
- What safeguards prevent autonomous fratricide?
- Explain accountability frameworks for ML false positives.
12. How do you evaluate tradeoffs in multi-role weapon systems?
I use multi-objective optimization with NSGA-II algorithms balancing range, payload, and survivability. KPPs are weighted via AHP surveys with combatant commanders. Trade space visualizations plot cost vs. effectiveness for ≥5 mission profiles.
Deeper Questions
- How do CONOPS changes impact multi-role optimization?
- What metrics compare SEAD vs. air superiority configurations?
- Explain lifecycle cost impacts of modularity.
13. What statistical methods do you apply to test data?
I use design of experiments (DoE) with Box-Behnken designs to isolate factors affecting radar detection ranges. Bayesian inference updates reliability estimates from sparse failure data. ANOVA identifies significant interactions between environmental and design variables.
Deeper Questions
- How do you handle censored data in reliability studies?
- Compare frequentist vs. Bayesian A/B testing for upgrades.
- What sample sizes ensure GEM ANOVA validity?
14. How do emerging technologies like AI impact your analyses?
I assess ML explainability via LIME/SHAP tools to validate target classification models. Digital twins with ROS 2 simulate autonomous swarming behaviors. Testing includes adversarial attacks like FGSM perturbations to evaluate neural net robustness.
Deeper Questions
- How do you quantify AI uncertainty in kill decisions?
- What HIL testing validates reinforcement learning policies?
- Explain data pipeline challenges for ML at the tactical edge.
15. How do you reconcile conflicting stakeholder requirements?
I employ Quality Function Deployment (QFD) matrices to prioritize requirements from ≥4 stakeholders. MOE/MOP conflicts are resolved through wargame-based tradespace analysis. Final recommendations balance technical feasibility with JCIDS validation timelines.
Deeper Questions
- What negotiation tactics resolve service branch conflicts?
- How do export controls influence requirement tradeoffs?
- Compare spiral development vs. big bang integration risks.
