Chief Capability Engineer, Experimentation
About The Position
MITRE’s Modeling and Analysis Technical Division seeks a visionary technical leader to guide the strategy, execution, and application of Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) experimentation—including tabletop exercises, wargaming, and simulation experimentation (SIMEX)—in support of national security and public-sector missions. The Chief Engineer will provide a shared division capability in experimentation design, stakeholder and participant engagement, and development of modeling, simulation, and supporting tools. The role will also build and sustain communities of technical expertise across the division. Working with the Division Chief Engineer and division leadership, the Chief Engineer will bring experimentation capabilities to MITRE’s FFRDC work programs and be accountable for the quality and utility of those capabilities, including physical and virtual laboratory infrastructure, shared frameworks, and technical approaches. This is not a formal people-management role, but it includes technical mentorship and staff development. The Chief Engineer will help shape internal research and development priorities and programs, mentoring staff from ideation through proposal and execution of research projects. The role also provides senior-principal-level technical support directly to MITRE work programs, with sponsor contributions focused on technical leadership in the division’s experimentation capabilities.
Requirements
- At least 12 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 10 years with a master’s degree, or 7 years with a Ph.D.; an equivalent combination of related education and work experience is also accepted.
- Experience designing, executing, and analyzing HITL experimentation methodologies, such as tabletop experimentation, wargaming, or SIMEX, for a diverse set of government or national security sponsors.
- Experience developing or applying modeling and simulation to support HITL experimentation.
- Ability to exert meaningful influence over strategic decisions in complex, collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Track record of learning about and rapidly responding to new problems across a variety of domains.
- Experience planning, executing, and presenting complex workstreams while balancing cost and schedule constraints.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain challenging technical concepts to expert and non-expert audiences.
- Mentoring experience, formally or informally, across a range of staff experience levels.
- Proficiency presenting complex technical issues in both virtual and live settings.
- Active U.S. Government-issued Top Secret/SCI security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for security-clearance eligibility.
- Ability to work onsite at least four days per week.
Nice To Haves
- A master’s or advanced degree in Operations Research, Systems Engineering, Political Science, Human Factors, Psychology, Computer Science, or a similar field.
- At least 10 years of experience applying modeling, simulation, and experimentation (MS&E) to complex real-world mission problems, such as kill chains, infrastructure, military operations, or strategic competition.
- Experience designing data collection and analysis plans for experiments.
- Experience applying AI-enabled tools to wargaming or experimentation.
- A demonstrated track record of building strong internal and external partnerships.
- Experience leveraging solutions from leading academic and commercial research groups.
Responsibilities
- Lead technical quality efforts and contribute to the development and adoption of technical quality standards for HITL experimentation work programs and division-managed labs and capabilities.
- Drive HITL experimentation capability development, including strategic investment recommendations, stewardship of physical and virtual infrastructure, and technical development and mentorship opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Division Chief Engineer, peer Chief Engineers, and partners in MNS and MPS to shape technical products, set expectations for current and future work, and apply technical domain knowledge and awareness of the state of the art.
- Execute and evolve HITL experimentation technical strategy in alignment with MITRE’s capability and division technical strategies; identify opportunities and assess technical strengths and weaknesses.
- Identify innovation opportunities for experimentation work programs and internal research and development, and propose or lead cross-cutting initiatives as needed.
- Develop and maintain relationships with technical leaders across MITRE program divisions, internal research and development, and external partners.
- Coordinate technical outreach to industry, academia, and other stakeholders to incorporate best practices and relevant technologies into technical products.
- Lead cross-department or cross-division technical initiatives as needed, with measurable impact.
- Evaluate the health and quality of HITL experimentation capabilities, including staff technical skills, facilities, infrastructure, mission-ready technology, platforms, and frameworks.
- Provide division leadership with timely recommendations about establishing, sustaining, or retiring labs, infrastructure, tools, and frameworks.
- Mentor and develop technical staff, cultivate technical career paths within the division and capability, and provide input to talent assessment and staff development planning.
- Provide differentiated technical contributions directly to sponsors and internal customers, focusing on measurable technical leadership in HITL experimentation.
- Help shape internal research priorities and programs and mentor staff from research ideation through proposal and project execution.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
