Defense Gov't Funded Research Lead

Noblis•Washington, DC

20h

About The Position

Noblis is seeking a visionary leader to help establish us as a premier S&T powerhouse and key innovator within the DARPA and Undersecretary of War (R&E) research ecosystem by expanding our role as a government-funded capability innovator. This role will help our transformation from services provider to solution innovator by enabling the development capabilities across CWMD, Biomanufacturing, Digital Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and modeling & simulation that deliver disruptive mission impact. The Opportunity You will architect and execute our strategy to become a trusted solution partner to DARPA, DIU, CDAO, and SCO—positioning Noblis as the go-to innovator for advanced research that solves the hardest mission challenges. This is about building our reputation as a technical powerhouse that delivers game-changing capabilities, not just staff augmentation. The ideal candidate brings deep DARPA and USW (R&E) relationships, a proven track record of transitioning breakthrough technologies from concept to operational impact, and the entrepreneurial drive to build our government funded research portfolio into a flagship demonstration of our innovation capabilities. What You'll Do Build Our Innovation Reputation: Work with Noblis CTO and the broader leadership team to establish Noblis as a recognized leader in delivering disruptive, mission-focused solutions that demonstrate our technical depth and innovation capacity. Shape how DARPA and USW (R&E) view us - as the team that brings breakthrough capabilities to their toughest problems. Drive Solution-Focused Growth: Lead capture and business development for OTAs, BAAs, and other Government-Funding research (GFR) opportunities that showcase our ability to develop advanced solution sets. Collaborate across technical disciplines to package our best innovations into compelling proposals that win based on technical merit and mission impact. Expand Our GFR Portfolio: Grow our government funded research footprint as proof that agencies trust us to deliver innovation on mission-critical challenges. Build a portfolio that demonstrates our S&T leadership and creates pathways to larger solution-based engagements. Accelerate Technology Transition: Champion the journey from research concept to operational capability, working with Noblis CTO to develop and seize upon opportunities to transition internally funded research into operational impact. Work with clients to ensure our innovations don't stay in the lab—they get deployed, adopted, and create lasting mission impact. Collaborate Across the Innovation Ecosystem: Partner with Noblis technical leaders, industry partners, and academic institutions to stay connected to frontier research and leverage cutting-edge ideas for mission advantage. This position is central to Noblis' transformation into a recognized S&T powerhouse. You'll help shift our portfolio from services to solutions, demonstrate our innovation capabilities to the most demanding research sponsors, and build the reputation that attracts top technical talent and high-impact opportunities. Success means agencies seek us out because they know we deliver breakthrough capabilities that solve their hardest problems. You will contribute to the success of an account, function and/or project, aligning your activities with company strategy and collaborate to improve current or create new Noblis methodologies, capabilities and/or services. As an employee, you: Attract, develop, engage and retain talent, encouraging innovation and collaborative problem-solving, and building a high-performing team. Work on novel assignments, issues and problems; assignments are large scope, high impact, high cost and are of high importance. Possess broad, deep expertise or unique knowledge in their field; resolve novel challenge with significant organizational impact and consult on solutions for novel, out-of-policy, or strategic issues. Act as a strategic advisor to top/executive management; collaborate with senior management on diverse, multi-area assignments. Build and maintain strategic relationships across groups; create and manage complex resource networks across internal/external groups. Operate under general direction with significant autonomy; demonstrate sound judgment in ambiguous situations and know when to escalate.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 10 years of experience (or a Master's degree and 8 or a PhD and 6)
Deep DARPA/USW (R&E) Knowledge: Working expertise in critical technology areas, acquisition strategies, and the innovation landscape across DARPA, SCO, DIU, and related entities
Solution Development Track Record: Demonstrated success developing and delivering technology solutions (not just services) to Department of War challenges—from concept through operational adoption
Innovation Leadership: Proven ability to lead teams in creating breakthrough capabilities that differentiate us technically and win competitive research opportunities
Strategic Business Development: Experience shaping and winning OTAs and BAAs based on technical innovation and solution value
Program Execution Excellence: Track record managing government funded research programs, including FAR awareness and complex requirements navigation
Relationship Builder: Existing relationships within DARPA and USW (R&E) strongly preferred
Active Secret Clearance: Required
US Citizenship: Required
Travel: Up to 30%

Nice To Haves

Active Top Secret Clearance
Master's degree in relevant technical field
Experience building research portfolios that demonstrate organizational S&T leadership
Track record of academic and industry partnerships that accelerate innovation

Responsibilities

Build Our Innovation Reputation: Work with Noblis CTO and the broader leadership team to establish Noblis as a recognized leader in delivering disruptive, mission-focused solutions that demonstrate our technical depth and innovation capacity. Shape how DARPA and USW (R&E) view us - as the team that brings breakthrough capabilities to their toughest problems.
Drive Solution-Focused Growth: Lead capture and business development for OTAs, BAAs, and other Government-Funding research (GFR) opportunities that showcase our ability to develop advanced solution sets. Collaborate across technical disciplines to package our best innovations into compelling proposals that win based on technical merit and mission impact.
Expand Our GFR Portfolio: Grow our government funded research footprint as proof that agencies trust us to deliver innovation on mission-critical challenges. Build a portfolio that demonstrates our S&T leadership and creates pathways to larger solution-based engagements.
Accelerate Technology Transition: Champion the journey from research concept to operational capability, working with Noblis CTO to develop and seize upon opportunities to transition internally funded research into operational impact. Work with clients to ensure our innovations don't stay in the lab—they get deployed, adopted, and create lasting mission impact.
Collaborate Across the Innovation Ecosystem: Partner with Noblis technical leaders, industry partners, and academic institutions to stay connected to frontier research and leverage cutting-edge ideas for mission advantage.

Benefits

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs.
Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards.
Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs.
Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category.

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