Chief Scientist

Amentum•Crane, IN

2d•$140,000 - $240,000•Onsite

About The Position

Amentum is seeking a Chief Scientist to lead scientific and technical direction for research and development efforts supporting Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UxS) programs. This individual will serve as the senior technical leadership guiding innovation strategy, ensuring technical rigor across research initiatives, and acting as the primary scientific liaison between Amentum and government stakeholders. The Chief Scientist will shape the technical roadmap for autonomous and unmanned systems operating in contested environments, spanning all domains such as air, sea, and ground.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 12 years of experience in the field or in a related area.
Advanced scientific expertise in C-UxS-relevant domains such as RF sensing, EW, directed energy, or autonomous systems.
Demonstrated leadership of advanced DoD R&D programs.
Experience translating research outcomes into system requirements and acquisition documentation.
Strong understanding of DoD acquisition processes and technology readiness level (TRL) frameworks.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior government and industry stakeholders.
Active Secret US Government Clearance. Note: US Citizenship is required to obtain a Secret Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D.
Active Top-Secret US Government Clearance. Note: US Citizenship is required to obtain a Top- Secret Clearance.
Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Responsibilities

Provide overall technical leadership and strategic direction for C-UxS research and development programs, ensuring alignment with customer objectives and emerging DoD priorities.
Serve as the principal technical advisor to the Program Manager and government customer on scientific matters, technology maturation, and R&D investment decisions.
Identify, evaluate, and recommend emerging technologies relevant to unmanned systems survivability, autonomy, resilience, and operations in contested/denied environments.
Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers across relevant technical domains.
Oversee technical quality and rigor of research products, including experimental design, modeling and simulation, testing methodologies, and data analysis.
Author and review technical papers, white papers, proposals, and briefings for government stakeholders, senior leadership, and external technical communities.
Represent Amentum at technical interchange meetings, industry conferences, and government reviews.
Collaborate with government program staff, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to ensure technical coherence across the broader research portfolio.
Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies in coordination with the Program Manager and government customer.
Support development of statements of work, technical proposals, and cost estimates for new task orders and research initiatives.
Ensure compliance with relevant government research standards, safety protocols, and data/IP handling requirements.