C-UxS PM

Riverside Research; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive compensation and benefits package

Job summary

Riverside Research is looking for a C-UxS Project Manager in Arlington, VA responsible for identifying and developing tech solutions using company products. You will lead CUAS projects, manage schedules, and ensure timely delivery in collaboration with DoD partners.

The ideal candidate will have 12+ years of relevant experience, strong program management skills, and the ability to engage multiple stakeholders. This role offers competitive compensation based on experience.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of related experience with appropriate degrees required.
• Experience in DoD acquisition or rapid prototyping preferred.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead CUAS projects from problem curation to prototype execution.
• Write SOWs and manage schedules while ensuring project delivery.
• Engage with stakeholders to identify capability gaps for CUAS.

Skills

Program management

Autonomy and unmanned systems knowledge

Stakeholder coordination

Technical diligence

Education

Bachelor's degree with 12 years experience

Master's degree with 8 years experience

PhD with 5 years experience

Job description

Riverside Overview

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high‑end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country's most challenging technical problems.

All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Position Overview

The C-UxS PM is primarily responsible for the identification and development of technology solutions for clients using company products, outsourced technology solutions and/or proprietary tools/techniques that others implement. The role defines client needs and develops a plan and proposal for delivery of the project. Viewed by customers as a consultant. Performance is typically evaluated based on the capture of the consulting engagement and/or utilization (i.e., billable hours).

This position can be located in Arlington, VA or Mountain View, CA.

Responsibilities

Program Management

Lead CUAS projects from problem curation through prototype execution and transition in coordination with DoD and commercial company partners.

Write Statements of Work (SOWs), manage schedules, track deliverables, and maintain accurate updates in DIU systems (e.g., Salesforce).

Issue task orders, monitor contract performance, and ensure projects deliver on time and within scope.

Problem Curation & Stakeholder Engagement

Work with DoD stakeholders (Services, CCMDs, PEOs) to identify CUAS and/or other autonomy related capability gaps and define project goals.

Translate user needs into structured problem statements that commercial vendors can address.

Manage relationships across DoD customers and interagency partners.

Industry & Vendor Engagement

Identify and recruit commercial companies with CUAS/autonomy solutions.

Guide vendors through DIU's acquisition process and help them adapt products to DoD needs.

Conduct technical diligence sufficient to evaluate commercial solutions (not as a deep SME).

Transition & Communication

Develop transition plans to move successful prototypes into programs of record or other scaling pathways.

Represent DIU's CUAS efforts to senior DoD leaders, industry partners, and interagency stakeholders.

Prepare clear reports, updates, and briefings for leadership.

Qualifications

A 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 required.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience in program management (preferably in DoD acquisition, technology transition, or rapid prototyping).
• Familiarity with autonomy, unmanned systems, or CUAS technologies - enough to ask the right questions and assess vendor claims.
• Experience writing SOWs, building schedules, issuing task orders, or managing similar project documentation.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and keep complex projects on track.
• Mix of DoD/USG and commercial experience strongly preferred.
• Current TS/SCI clearance required.

Attributes

• Energetic & Mission-Driven - motivated to solve hard DoD problems with commercial technology.
• Entrepreneurial - seeks opportunities, builds networks, and grows DIU's impact.
• Independent - makes informed decisions and keeps projects moving without constant guidance.
• Agile & Flexible - navigates DoD bureaucracy and finds ways to get to "yes."
• Organized & Detail-Oriented - comfortable with the mundane PM tasks that make projects successful.
• Fixer/Solver - proactively identifies risks, mitigates issues, and clears blockers.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience trying to sell technology to DoD or working inside a PEO/PM office.
• Frustration with DoD bureaucracy and a passion to improve it.
• Prior operational or combat experience (reinforcing end‑user empathy).
• Networks in autonomy, CUAS, or defense innovation communities.

Global Compensation

$138,000 - $225,000. This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location, and other factors.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not‑for‑profit, technology‑oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action‑equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.

Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job‑related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not‑for‑profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran's status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.