Academic Engagement SME

Leidos•San Antonio, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Leidos is hiring an Academic Engagement SME in San Antonio, Texas, to support the Air Force Cryptologic Office (AFCO) and work directly with the 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) Technical Director. The role involves coordinating the Academic Engagement (AE) Program across 16AF staff, state and federal organizations, universities, and industry partners. The successful candidate will manage multiple projects and bring a detail-oriented, creative, innovative, and quality-focused approach to the work. The AE Lead develops research plans connecting government and universities to support career development in areas such as defense of critical infrastructure and super intelligence. The position selects solutions and identifies ways to improve efficiency through partner integrations, innovation forums, and technical discussions in support of 16AF requirements. It requires hands-on integration and critical and creative thinking to align research activities among government, industry, and academic partners, drawing on knowledge of ISR and cyber fundamentals.

Requirements

Current DoD TS/SCI security clearance.
Master’s degree and 10 or more years of relevant experience, or bachelor’s degree and 15 or more years of relevant experience; additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Skill in building and sustaining relationships among subject-matter experts in various disciplines and aligning their expertise to advance relationships between government, industry, and academia.
Understanding of authority vehicles such as CRADAs, EPAs, and IPAs, with support provided from AFRL.
Proficiency in postsecondary programs such as cybersecurity, computer science, and political science.
Knowledge of requirements for nationally recognized academic qualifications and designations, including the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).
Ability to work independently.

Nice To Haves

Current polygraph.
Experience researching cybersecurity and ISR topics academically and/or operationally.
Awareness of existing DoW cybersecurity policy, plans, and program models supporting academic scholarships and internships.
Portfolio or samples of completed projects and/or case studies.
Exposure to DoW policies, training programs, and certifications in cybersecurity, computer science, and political science, and methods for transferring government-based standards into academia.
Familiarity with cyber and ISR regulatory principles, methods, and techniques used by DoW, USAF, and federal agencies.
Interest in and suggested solutions for expanding the AE Program within 16AF.
Background with accreditation needed for secure work environments, including hardware and software designs and credentials.
Understanding of the roles performed by Technical Directors and Technical Advisors at 16AF and subordinate organizations.

Responsibilities

Synchronize partnerships between government and academia through multiple exchange formats.
Organize and lead formal academic exchange events, such as technical talks and cyber-style capture-the-flag events.
Collaborate with government, industry, and academic partners at various intervals.
Provide academic partners with information about available resources, including scholarship programs and federal grants.
Lead technical research and development that enables continued innovation between government subject-matter experts and academic research leaders.
Brief senior government and academic leaders on AE Program details and future plans.
Ensure research plans remain aligned with the original problem intent and support basic and intermediate development stages.
Identify completed research findings suitable for advanced development and industry engagement.
Develop research plans between government and universities in support of career development.
Select solutions and investigate ways to improve efficiency through partner integrations, innovation forums, and technical discussions supporting 16AF requirements.
Align research activities among government, industry, and academic partners using knowledge of ISR and cyber fundamentals.