Project Leader, Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition Logistics and Technology

The MITRE Corporation•Aberdeen, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

MITRE is a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, operating R&D centers for the government across diverse fields. The Army Concepts to Capabilities Department (N213) provides innovative methods to address sponsor challenges by applying engineering and scientific disciplines with operational understanding to achieve multidomain capable forces. This department manages and oversees projects spanning the research and development pipeline, from concept development to technology evaluation and assisting with capability delivery to soldiers, including sustainment and the organic industrial base. The project leader role is crucial for building competency across a diverse group of mission engineers, defense acquisition experts, operations research/system analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and communication systems engineers, all focused on solving problems for warfighters. The department leadership advises senior leaders and decision-makers on evidence-based analysis, fostering partnerships across government, industry, academia, and research centers, bringing objectivity, innovation, courage, and technical excellence. The Department is based at the MITRE McLean campus with staff in multiple locations. The Army Division (N210) is seeking a talented and experienced leader to serve as the Army Acquisition Project leader for the Concept to Capabilities Department (N213). As project lead, the candidate will be responsible for the execution of this work program on behalf of the Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)). The selected candidate will set the technical direction of the project work program, strategically shape and execute tasks with the sponsor, grow a diverse team of world-class technical and engineering talent, foster a culture of connection and belonging, and build collaborative relationships across the sponsor community, MITRE, industry, and academia. Collaboration with department managers and chief engineers, and leveraging MITRE Labs, will be critical. The role involves working closely with senior government civilian and military leaders across various National Capitol Region locations, requiring regular sponsor interaction and potential co-location in government spaces. The project leader is accountable to the N213 department manager for all aspects of sponsor-facing and internal business operations, coordinating and integrating efforts across the department, division, and broader MITRE to maximize impact and value.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
Extensive experience with Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, and Autonomous systems engineering.
Active Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret clearance with access to Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
U.S. Citizenship required.
Deep understanding of the Army implementation of the Unified Data Reference Architecture (UDRA) across the Army’s warfighting and institutional network architectures.
Technical background in disciplines of relevance to defense acquisition. This includes information technology, cyber, autonomy, MBSE, Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) modeling, requirements, and data analytics. Background in Army operations and strategic planning.
Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering artifacts in SysML or UML.
Proven experience engaging senior sponsors with successful impacts and outcomes, and establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships.
Established track record in leading the delivery of data-driven technical products with the military warfighting domain, resulting in positive mission impact.
Experience managing large technically diverse team.
Demonstrates collaboration and communication skills to support individual, team, and customer-related interaction.
Possess excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
A desire to continually learn and master new concepts and technologies.
Strong critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills – comfortable working in dynamic settings where task objectives may evolve or need to be shaped, or creative solutions to task impediments must be identified.
Excellent interpersonal and technical communication skills, with the ability to write technical reports, present briefings, and persuasively speak to audiences of all backgrounds, including executives or senior customers.
Demonstrated ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment, establish and leverage a diverse professional network, and integrate contributions from a variety of resources (people, tools, organizations).
On-site requirement of 4 days a week on-site.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in Engineering, Computer Science/Information Technology, Mathematics, natural/applied sciences, cyber security, or data sciences.
Current/Active TS/SCI Clearance.
Demonstrated MITRE project and people leadership experience.
Demonstrated ability to take risk and lead work with partial insights, and operate effectively autonomously.
Demonstrated ability to build collaboration across organizational units.
Extensive Experience with the AFSIM tool.
Experience developing Model-Based Systems Engineering artifacts in SysML or UML and leading teams focused on System of Systems Engineering.
Experience with AGILE framework.

Responsibilities

Lead acquisition reform (ref. Executive Order Modernizing Defense Acquisition and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base 9 April 2025) through thought leadership grounded in a deep understanding of ASA(ALT) functions and institutional Army missions. This involves partnerships both internal to our MITRE staff leading efforts across Transformation and Training Command, HQDA G8, and the Portfolio Acquisition Executives and associated Capability Portfolio leads in addition to key external stakeholder partnerships.
Initiate cross-stakeholder activities to address national mission priorities, such as Southern Border Interoperability and Integration, e.g. NGC2, CUAS, Operational Theater needs to address challenges with fragmented data sharing, incompatible tactical communications networks, redundant sensor and ISR data pipelines, and lack of cross-domain capabilities.
Advance prototyping and rapid fielding proposals through the identification of dual-use technology addressing CONUS based challenges, designing pilot demonstrations of effective data strategies and network/data integration tools, working alongside critical transition partners early to elevate technology at scale for the aligned program executive offices and management shops.
Define and lead fast-paced, high impact work in the areas of systems engineering, concept development, data architecture and design, artificial intelligence, and securing the enterprise industrial base.
Develop and nurture relationships with senior leaders (General Officers, Senior Executive Staff, and their most influential subordinates) with the goal of serving as a bridge to industry and guiding the respective work programs to achieve strategic goals established in concert with these leaders.
Grow MITRE support in high-impact areas that we currently do not have direct support.
Collaborate with department managers and project leaders to define a high impact work program enabling MITRE to bring differentiated value.
Directly contribute to the work program to deliver impact in terms of both division objectives and sponsor mission outcomes.
Align outcomes towards MNS Cross Cutting Priorities, Build Deep Priorities and collaborate with priority leads.
Assist project leaders in identifying the necessary talent and resources necessary to execute our work.
Provide regular, useful, timely, and complete feedback to department managers on the performance of staff.
Collaborate external to MITRE across HQDA, other FFRDC/UARC partners as well as contractors.
Lead by example: be the exemplary model of MITRE’s Cultural / Behavioral Attributes: Speed, Risk Taking, Adaptability, Grace and Respect, and Collaboration.