Missile Defense Acquisition Integrator, Senior Principal

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The MDA Program Division’s mission is to advance the nation’s missile defense by delivering threat resilient and cost-effective solutions through novel multi-domain integration, domain focused operational prototyping, and trusted industry partnerships. The MDA division work program spans across acquisition, science and technology, architecture development and assessment, and various product offices. The MDA program division partners with other services and agencies to deliver integrated and innovative air and missile defense (IAMD) solutions in command-and-control (C2) and fire control; radar and sensors design; communications, transport, and position, navigation, and timing (PNT); advanced concept development; cyber operations and technologies; mission engineering and architecture analysis; agile acquisition; and open systems, modularity, and interoperability.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The MDA program division is seeking a talented and experienced leader to partner with senior leadership in the MDA Directorate of Acquisition & Sustainment (DA) to implement cross-agency novel acquisition and sustainment practices to streamline program execution and accelerate mission outcomes. The candidate will be a credible authority on defense acquisition, sustainment, technology transition, and missile defense. You will belong to a high-performing team that regularly initiates and implements projects in support of sponsors’ strategic initiatives, often before a sponsor can fully recognize or articulate that they are needed.

Roles include:

• Effectively engage, communicate, and develop relationships with senior leadership in MDA/DA, across the entire agency, and with external organizations.
• Effectively engage and motivate sponsors, stakeholders, and the larger enterprise on acquisition modernization and agility topics ranging from acquisition policy to technology assessments, commercialization, and mission needs.
• Develop and propose innovative strategies, policies, and processes that improve defense acquisition outcomes, enable sustainment, and program execution, ranging from programs, portfolios, and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Contribute with impact as part of one or more integrated product teams to enable DoW to transition emerging technologies and prototypes.
• Strategically communicate internally and externally on key issues related to defense acquisition & program execution.
• Identify opportunities and shape strategic investments for research and development to streamline the insertion of advanced concepts and technologies in the next generation missile defense system.
• Build and manage relationships between senior sponsors, MITRE, and other stakeholders (Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), think tanks, Industry, academia).
  
  

Basic Qualifications:

Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 10 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 7 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

Broad exposure and significant roles across the DoW’s acquisition environment, including the innovation ecosystem.

Experience building coalitions and communities that span multiple organizations across government and the private sector.

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.

Demonstrated ability to work in team settings, to include establishing formal or informal teams or alliances which coordinate across technical and organizational boundaries to achieve significant mission outcomes.

Strong interpersonal skills as well as effective verbal and written communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to work with government seniors (general officers and SES).

Demonstrated technical and mission knowledge of missile defense programs, capabilities, and operations.

Experience in three or more of the domain or functional areas adjacent to the key areas of missile defense:

• Software intensive systems, including agile software development methodologies, DevOps, and/or cloud-based capabilities
• Cyber security or cyber operations
• Joint or service logistics & sustainment
• Simulations and wargaming
• Architecture Analysis
• Sensor design
• Command-and-control & fire control
• Advanced concepts
• Test & evaluation, systems engineering, cost estimation, or program protection of acquisition programs related to any of the above
• The Defense industrial base and Supply Chain management
• Willingness to travel to Sponsor and Industry sites for direct engagement and/or meetings.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with access to Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements for a clearance, U.S. Citizenship is requird.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in an Applied Science or Engineering.
• Private sector experience defense, technology, or consulting industries.
• Strong & trusted existing relationships within MDA/DA and across MDA.
• Experience working with OUSW Research and Engineering and/or Acquisition and Sustainment staff.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain and leverage a strong professional network to provide thought leadership across the acquisition enterprise.
  
  

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$190,000 - $237,500 - $285,000 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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