Project Lead, ARL and TDAC

The MITRE Corporation • McLean, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.
The Army Multi-Domain ISR Operations and Systems (N212) department, part of MITRE’s Army Program Division within MITRE National Security, is seeking a Project Lead (PL) to support Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and DEVCOM Analysis Center (TDAC) projects. These efforts are currently small, but strategically important, and we are looking for an entrepreneurial leader who can manage project execution while expanding the scope, scale and impact of our work with ARL and TDAC.
The ideal candidate combines strong project management skills, a solid technical understanding of Army research and analysis environments, and a business development mindset focused on building these projects into sustained, multiyear programs. The individual should have broad technical awareness and depth in at least one of the following foundational ARL and TDAC research areas: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Photonics, Energy Sciences, Electronics and Quantum Sciences, AI, Autonomy. The PL will be expected to proactively collaborate across MITRE to bring the best capabilities forward for our sponsors.
This role requires periodic sponsor visits to Adelphi, MD. It is not expected to be a full-time role initially; the Project Lead will typically maintain at least 50% of their time on other projects until this work is grown into a larger program.

Requirements

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following disciplines: Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, AI, Autonomy, or similar technical field; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Active DoW Secret security clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to understand and communicate technical research concepts (models, simulations, experiments, algorithms) to both scientific and non‑technical Army stakeholders.
• Experience integrating research outputs into follow-on analyses, prototypes, or transition activities supporting Army programs or operational users.
• Strong networking skills and familiarity with the roles, missions, and constraints of FFRDCs, UARCs, and nonprofit R&D entities supporting DoW and the Army.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to prepare and deliver senior-level briefs and technical documentation.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.

Nice To Haves

• Active DoW Top Secret security clearance
• Demonstrated experience working with or within basic and applied research environments (e.g., ARL Directorates, DEVCOM labs, DoW S&T organizations, UARCs, FFRDCs, or academic research centers)
• Master’s Degree in one of the following disciplines: Computer or Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or similar technical field and 5 years related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to self-learn and adapt to new technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the customer's mission, environment and critical challenges and align MITRE tasks and capabilities to support their most critical outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government sponsors, CORs, PMs, and technical leads at ARL and TDAC.
• Take the lead in identifying, improving the quality of, and ensuring the delivery of data-driven technical products in partnership with the individual task leads to support achievement of critical customer goals and outcomes.
• Develop and execute a growth strategy to expand current ARL/TDAC efforts into larger, longer-term programs.
• Identify new opportunities aligned with ARL and TDAC priorities (e.g., modeling and simulation, analysis, AI/ML, autonomy, survivability, lethality, human systems integration, etc.).
• Proactively identify and cultivate partnerships across MITRE, including internal labs, innovation centers, and technical centers of excellence, to bring the best expertise to ARL/TDAC sponsors.
• Ensure proper resource allocation for planned execution (e.g., level of effort, dollars, and technical staff) in partnership with individual task leads.
• Track overall project and individual task delivery and finances, including project funding status, and take appropriate action as necessary to correct shortfalls or overruns.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level