Associate Project Leader, Naval Digital Infrastructure & Services

The Mitre Corporation•Quantico, VA

3d•$162,400 - $243,600•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE’s Expeditionary and Asymmetric Operations Department (N233) seeks an Associate Project Leader for its Naval Digital Infrastructure & Services work program. The role serves as deputy to the Project Leader for an approximately 26-FTE program supporting the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Mission Systems (PAE MS), Digital Infrastructure & Services Portfolio. The program comprises three related tasks: Naval Enterprise Networks (NEN), Marine Corps Enterprise Networks (MCEN), and Manpower IT Systems Modernization (MITSM). The Associate Project Leader helps shape and execute the work program, integrate outcomes across its three tasks, coordinate strategic and operational activities, and ensure disciplined delivery of MITRE commitments. The individual maintains leadership continuity and functions as Project Leader when the Project Leader is unavailable or authority is delegated. The role connects MITRE capabilities in defense acquisition, systems engineering, enterprise IT, cybersecurity, architecture, data analytics, and artificial intelligence with sponsor priorities and warfighter needs. As a senior member of the N233 project leadership team, the Associate Project Leader works with the Project Leader, task leaders, department and division leadership, technical and people leaders, and geographically distributed staff. The position helps integrate outcomes, resolve cross-task dependencies, align staffing and resources, monitor project health, and provide an objective, technically rigorous FFRDC perspective. It requires moving between sponsor-facing strategy and detailed project execution, using independent judgment, and representing the project credibly to senior stakeholders. The position is based in Quantico, Virginia, with McLean, Virginia, as an alternate work location. It requires a minimum of four days per week onsite and approximately 20% travel within the National Capital Region and to other Naval sites in the continental United States. Candidates must hold an active Secret U.S. Government security clearance and be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. The hired candidate must have or obtain a Top Secret clearance within one year of hire. U.S. citizenship is required for security-clearance eligibility.

Requirements

Typically at least 10 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or 8 years with a master’s degree; or a Ph.D. with 5 years of experience; or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, engineering, computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, data science, operations research, business or acquisition management, or a related technical field.
Demonstrated Department of War acquisition experience, including working with acquisition organizations and technical stakeholders to translate mission needs into acquisition strategies, requirements, architectures, technical plans, investment decisions, or other decision-quality recommendations.
Demonstrated systems engineering experience on complex programs or enterprises, including requirements analysis, architecture, integration, technical risk management, trade-space analysis, and recommendations for senior decision-makers.
Experience leading complex, multifaceted technical projects, major workstreams, or programs with concurrent tasks, multidisciplinary teams, interdependent outcomes, and significant sponsor visibility, including managing or directly supporting scope, schedule, staffing, technical quality, risk, budget, contractual commitments, and sponsor expectations.
Ability to serve as a trusted deputy or delegated leader, exercise sound judgment on behalf of a senior leader, maintain continuity of operations, and assume broader leadership responsibilities when required.
Experience coordinating execution through task leaders, workstream leads, technical leads, or other subordinate or peer leaders; integrating across organizational boundaries; resolving competing priorities; managing dependencies; and driving commitments to closure.
Knowledge of enterprise IT and digital infrastructure and services, including one or more of enterprise networks, cloud or platform services, cybersecurity, data architecture and governance, digital service delivery, enterprise applications, or IT modernization.
Experience partnering with senior military and civilian leaders to identify mission needs, shape work, define outcomes, and deliver technical products or recommendations supporting acquisition, portfolio, or operational decisions.
Experience supporting project operations, including staffing and resource planning, budget or financial management, schedules and milestones, risk and issue management, performance monitoring, contract or task-order execution, and leadership reporting.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex technical, acquisition, and project execution matters to senior leaders and stakeholders with varying technical expertise.
Ability to build trusted sponsor relationships, lead geographically distributed teams, collaborate across organizational boundaries, handle sensitive or consequential issues discreetly, and credibly represent a senior leader or project organization.
Active Secret U.S. Government security clearance and eligibility to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information; U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility.
Ability to work onsite a minimum of four days per week and travel approximately 20% within the National Capital Region and to other Naval sites throughout the continental United States.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in systems engineering, engineering, computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, data science, operations research, business or acquisition management, or a related field.
Direct experience supporting PAE MS, the Digital Infrastructure & Services Portfolio, NEN, MCEN, MITSM, or other Navy and Marine Corps acquisition organizations responsible for enterprise digital, network, or manpower systems.
Experience as a deputy, integration lead, Associate Project Leader, Task Leader, or senior technical leader for a work program comparable to approximately 26 FTEs, with substantial responsibility for staffing, financial performance, technical quality, risk management, and integrated delivery through multiple task or workstream leaders.
Experience acting on behalf of a project or program leader, representing the organization with senior sponsors, making decisions within delegated authority, and maintaining leadership continuity during transitions or absences.
Experience applying enterprise Agile practices, Agile acquisition, Lean Portfolio Management, value-stream budgeting, performance measurement, organizational change, or IT service management at portfolio scale.
Experience with secure data architecture and governance, cyber resilience engineering, risk analysis, enterprise interoperability, or continuity-of-operations planning.
Experience applying enterprise architecture, Model-Based Systems Engineering, System-of-Systems Engineering, digital engineering, mission engineering, or the Unified Architecture Framework to large-scale modernization efforts.
Experience evaluating or adopting artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, data analytics, predictive decision support, or responsible AI practices in mission or enterprise settings.
Prior experience as a MITRE Associate Project Leader, Project Leader, Task Leader, Outcome Leader, Chief Engineer, or in a comparable technical program or deputy leadership role.
Experience shaping and sustaining high-value FFRDC work programs, identifying future sponsor needs, developing task concepts and deliverables, and connecting sponsor challenges with capabilities across MITRE.
Demonstrated record of mentoring staff, developing future technical and project leaders, providing meaningful performance feedback, and building inclusive, collaborative, high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as deputy and principal advisor to the Project Leader, supporting project direction, work-program shaping, sponsor relationships, technical integration, and strategic and operational priorities.
Act as Project Leader when the Project Leader is unavailable or authority is delegated, maintaining leadership continuity and exercising appropriate authority over sponsor engagement, project decisions, risk escalation, staffing, finances, delivery, and communications.
Support strategic, technical, acquisition, and operational leadership by integrating NEN, MCEN, and MITSM into a coherent program aligned with PAE MS priorities and warfighter needs.
Maintain a deep understanding of PAE MS’s mission, portfolio, acquisition environment, technical priorities, customer needs, and the relationships among enterprise networks, digital services, data, cybersecurity, manpower systems, and operational readiness.
Work with the Project Leader and senior Navy and Marine Corps sponsors to identify problems, define outcomes, shape tasks, and establish technically sound deliverables; independently lead sponsor engagements and project activities when assigned or delegated.
Coordinate execution through task leaders; establish cross-project priorities; synchronize outcomes, staffing, budgets, schedules, and shared technical resources; manage dependencies; track commitments; and resolve issues affecting integrated delivery.
Lead cross-cutting initiatives, planning, technical and execution reviews, and special assignments spanning multiple tasks; ensure decisions, actions, dependencies, and risks are documented, assigned, and closed.
Connect technical products and recommendations to acquisition decisions, investment priorities, portfolio governance, and operational effects; communicate project status, findings, risks, recommendations, decisions needed, and emerging opportunities.
Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior military and civilian sponsors, program managers, technical directors, and other stakeholders; represent the project in sponsor and MITRE leadership forums.
Help build and lead a cohesive, geographically distributed, multidisciplinary team of approximately 26 FTEs, setting clear expectations for task leaders and staff on responsibilities, sponsor engagement, technical quality, deliverables, schedules, collaboration, and development.
Coordinate with task and people leaders to identify skill demand, define resource requests, assign staff, balance resources, address staffing gaps, and maintain staffing plans and forecasts.
Partner with the Department Chief Engineer and other technical leaders to ensure project approaches, reviews, and deliverables are objective, data-driven, traceable, technically rigorous, and consistent with MITRE quality standards.
Leverage MITRE enterprise projects, technical expertise, laboratories, independent research, and bodies of knowledge; engage industry, academia, government laboratories, other FFRDCs, and external partners when they advance sponsor outcomes or strengthen technical foundations.
Support delivery of high-quality technical products and actionable recommendations on time and within budget; monitor execution, identify risks and performance concerns, develop mitigation plans, and help meet cost, schedule, and performance commitments.
Perform and oversee project administration, contract and task-order management, staffing forecasts, budget development, financial planning, risk management, performance monitoring, and reporting; provide timely, accurate insight into project health, outcomes, risks, and decisions requiring attention.
Provide performance observations and feedback; support onboarding, staff development, succession planning, and development of future task and project leaders; foster a collaborative, adaptable, respectful, accountable, and high-performing environment.
Anticipate emerging PAE MS needs, shape future work, connect sponsor challenges with MITRE capabilities, and develop enduring FFRDC opportunities with meaningful impact for PAE MS and warfighting customers.