Autonomous Warfare Programs Lead

Riverside Research Institute; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Research Institute in the United States seeks a Program Manager with deep experience across military operations, commercial technology, and DoD acquisition to support the Defense Innovation Unit. The role focuses on turning warfighter problems into executable programs, exercising autonomy and ownership in a dynamic, non-traditional PM environment.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams, shape acquisition and transition strategies, manage vendors, and drive

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 8 years with a master’s degree, a PhD with 5 years’ experience, or equivalent experience is typically required for an employee at this level.
• Meaningful experience in at least two of these areas: military operations, commercial technology, DoD acquisition, technical program management, autonomy, robotics, or artificial intelligence.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical programs with responsibility for outcomes, schedules, budgets, risks, and senior stakeholder expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, make decisions with incomplete information, and maintain momentum without detailed direction.
• Sufficient technical fluency to decompose unfamiliar problems, evaluate solution credibility and maturity, identify integration risks, and engage effectively with engineers and operators.
• Strong end-user empathy developed through operational service, acquisition experience, product development, or firsthand experience delivering commercial technology to the Department.
• Working knowledge of DoD acquisition and contracting pathways, including FAR-based contracts, Other Transactions, prize challenges, SBIR, or comparable rapid-acquisition mechanisms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate between operational, technical, commercial, and acquisition communities.
• Current TS/SCI clearance

Responsibilities

• Translate complex operational needs into clear problem statements, technical objectives, evaluation criteria, and executable acquisition strategies.
• Identify and assess commercial technologies, companies, and emerging market capabilities relevant to priority Department needs.
• Build and lead multidisciplinary programs involving military operators, engineers, acquisition professionals, contracting personnel, test organizations, commercial vendors, and senior leaders.
• Manage program outcomes, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations from initial problem definition through transition.
• Develop competitive solicitation, prototyping, experimentation, and contracting strategies using the most appropriate acquisition pathways.
• Design operational assessments that generate credible evidence, meaningful end-user feedback, and clear transition decisions.
• Work directly with vendors to resolve technical, contractual, operational, and organizational barriers.
• Develop transition strategies that move successful prototypes into production, sustained operational use, or an established program of record.
• Communicate program status, risks, decisions, and recommendations clearly to senior government, military, and industry stakeholders.
• Build enduring partnerships across the Services, combatant commands, program offices, operational units, commercial industry, and the broader defense innovation ecosystem.

Job description

Riverside Research Institute in the United States seeks a Program Manager with deep experience across military operations, commercial technology, and DoD acquisition to support the Defense Innovation Unit. The role focuses on turning warfighter problems into executable programs, exercising autonomy and ownership in a dynamic, non-traditional PM environment.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams, shape acquisition and transition strategies, manage vendors, and drive