Space Technical SETA, Top Secret Clearance

Blue Sky Innovators - Arlington, VA

Full-time - Mid Level

Arlington, VA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The position involves coordinating meetings, assessing technical progress of performers, projecting outcomes, and ensuring adherence to project management best practices within DARPA and its funded entities. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in research, development, and engineering, particularly in spacecraft and propulsion systems, and will be responsible for leading assessments and managing programmatic activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead periodic performer assessments to analyze program, technical, and schedule risks; develop risk mitigation strategies; communicate findings to program manager.
• Evaluate and guide technical reports, briefings, and other performer communications.
• Engage stakeholders and collaborators across various DoD agencies and services.
• Shape and oversee early operational analysis.
• Administer programmatics, including development of technical analysis, identification of technology gaps, technical risk management, project cost estimation, and technology transfer efforts.
• Prepare DARPA work products, including presentations and reports.
• Attend and organize program reviews, site visits, and field tests.
• Support further research solicitation development and source selection activities associated with new developing program efforts.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience with space projects and new technology development work, preferably with experience building and testing hardware.
• Background in astrodynamics, autonomous systems, and space operations.
• Prior experience working programs at DARPA as a technical and program management support contractor.
• Knowledge of DARPA processes and procedures.
• Demonstrated program management expertise, with over 5 years following program management best practices in a research environment, preferably as a project lead.
• Expertise and strong interest in technical areas related to spacecraft and propulsion systems.
• Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar areas needed to broadly support program goals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Project.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills both written (to include PowerPoint) and oral.
• Self-starter who is willing to both take the lead and provide support in a team role in a complex, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Strong organization skills with the ability to multi-task and respond to quick turn-around requests.
• Flexible and readily adaptable to change responsibilities.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in sensors and data processing.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new subjects and gain rapid insights into current and next-generation research topics, preferably with hands-on leadership of research programs at the performer level.

Benefits

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Affirmative Action (AA) employer
• Accommodations for job seekers with disabilities