DARPA Portfolio Technical Lead

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking a Portfolio Technical Lead to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA, guiding technical rigor, risk assessment, and portfolio coherence for a diverse portfolio spanning DoD and national security programs.

The role requires a PhD in a relevant field, 15+ years of biomedical research and program management, and an active TS/SCI clearance. You will translate complex concepts for decision-makers and collaborate with senior government and external

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline (e.g., Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, or related field).
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in biomedical research, technical program management, and/or science and technology policy, including significant experience in the Federal government, DoD, or DARPA environments.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior technical and strategic advisory support to government program managers or senior leadership in a science and technology (S&T) organization.
• Proven track record of leading and integrating complex technical portfolios-including program formulation, technical evaluation, and cross-program integration-within a high-tempo, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Extensive experience in technical writing, briefing, and communication, including the ability to distill and present complex scientific and technical concepts to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Experience managing and mentoring technical teams, including task delegation, onboarding, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and coordinate with senior government, interagency, and external stakeholders (e.g., FDA, DoD, DARPA, NIH, academic and industry partners) on technical, policy, and programmatic matters.
• Experience with Federal acquisition and program management processes, including familiarity with OTA, FAR/DFARS, and cooperative agreements.
• Recognized subject matter expertise in biomedical research, medical countermeasures, or related technical domains.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Able to report to Arlington, VA up to full-time based upon client needs.

Responsibilities

• The Portfolio Technical Lead will act as the DARPA Program Manager's primary advisor for technical rigor, integration, and portfolio coherence.
• The Lead will provide independent technical assessment across all programs to ensure alignment with PM intent and agency priorities.
• The Lead will evaluate technical risk, maturity, feasibility, and transition potential across the portfolio.
• Translate technical complexity into decision-ready options, tradeoffs, and recommendations for the PM.
• Surface risks early with recommended courses of action, and elevate issues requiring PM judgment.
• Additionally, the Portfolio Lead will be responsible for portfolio integration across programs, and engage with senior stakeholders and performers.

Skills

Technical leadership

Program management

Biomedical research

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder coordination

Mentoring teams

Technical writing

Education

PhD in biomedical or related field

Tools

OTA

FAR/DFARS

Job description

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking a Portfolio Technical Lead to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA, guiding technical rigor, risk assessment, and portfolio coherence for a diverse portfolio spanning DoD and national security programs.

The role requires a PhD in a relevant field, 15+ years of biomedical research and program management, and an active TS/SCI clearance. You will translate complex concepts for decision-makers and collaborate with senior government and external