Direct Laboratory Directorate Analyst (Medical RDT&E)

Applied-Research-Associates,-Inc; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. in the Arlington, VA area seeks an Emerging Technologies Support Senior Program Analyst to provide technical, programmatic, and strategic support to the Department of War across a broad portfolio of advanced science and technology areas.

This hybrid role requires onsite performance 1-2 days per week. The analyst will assess ET RDT&E programs, assist with investment strategies, prepare briefs, and coordinate cross‑organizational activities, delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, business management, or related discipline.
• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility.
• 8+ years of strategic technical oversight experience.
• Ability to translate complex analyses into actionable insights.
• Working knowledge of the PPBE process and S&T investment planning.
• Strong technical writing capabilities and clear documentation.
• Ability to work independently and in a distributed environment.

Responsibilities

• Assess and analyze ET RDT&E programs and monitor state-of-the-art developments.
• Coordinate assessments of programs and technologies including Quantum Science and PNT.
• Develop ET investment strategies including requirements analysis and evaluation of projects.
• Prepare analytical products, briefings, and decision materials for senior leaders.
• Support legislative and congressional activities with tracking and materials.
• Draft and coordinate updates to directives and governance documents.
• Participate in cross-organizational meetings and track actions.
• Assist with long-range S&T planning materials for enterprise-wide dissemination.
• Prepare issue papers and identify unfunded requirements.

Skills

Technical writing

Security clearance (TS with SCI)

Strategic program analysis

PPBE knowledge

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific/technical/business discipline

Master’s degree or higher

Job description

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following our Accessibility Accomodation for Applicants page.

Emerging Technologies Support Senior Program Analyst

• Posted on October 30, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location

Arlington, VA 22203, USA

• Hybrid
• Travel Required : Yes
• Systems Development
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: DIREC010181

Description

The Mission Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc (ARA) is seeking a seeks an Emerging Technologies Support Senior Program Analyst to provide technical, programmatic, and strategic support to the Department of War (DoW) across a broad portfolio of advanced science and technology (S&T) areas. The analyst will assess emerging platforms and weapons technologies, support investment strategy development, contribute to congressional and legislative activities, and coordinate cross‑organizational working groups and interagency efforts. This hybrid role includes classified responsibilities and requires onsite performance 1-2 days per week.

What You’ll Do:

• Assess and analyze Emerging Technologies (ET) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs, monitoring state‑of‑the‑art developments in platforms, weapons systems, and critical technology.
• Assist with the coordination of assessments and analyses of programs and technologies, including Quantum Science and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT).
• Support the development of ET investment strategies, including requirements analysis, solicitation preparation, and evaluation of proposed technical projects.
• Prepare analytical products, technical briefings, decision materials, and documentation that inform senior leader decision‑making and support Science and Technology (S&T) governance.
• Support legislative and congressional activities by tracking relevant actions, maintaining awareness of reporting requirements, and preparing supporting materials.
• Draft and coordinate updates to Directives and Instructions.
• Participate in cross‑organizational working groups and technical meetings, document outcomes, track action items, and coordinate across DoW and interagency partners as required.
• Assist with updates to strategy documents, directives, governance frameworks, and long‑range S&T planning materials for enterprise‑wide dissemination.
• Prepare issue papers, identify unfunded requirements, and complete various programmatic documentation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a scientific, technical, business management, or related discipline.
• Must have an active / current TS security clearance with SCI eligibility.
• 8+ years of recent and relevant experience providing strategic technical oversight of projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency in conducting technical research, including the ability to analyze complex scientific or engineering information and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Working knowledge of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process, including key terminology, decision points, and its relevance to Science and Technology (S&T) investment planning.
• Strong technical writing capabilities and the ability to prepare clear, concise documentation.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with both junior and senior staff in a distributed environment while maintaining a strong commitment to deliverable schedules.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher.
• Ten (10) years of recent and relevant experience providing strategic technical oversight of projects.
• Domain experience in munitions technologies, directed energy, biotechnology, quantum information sciences, unmanned systems, and counter‑unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).
• Experience in long-range investment strategy, and programmatic planning.
• Experience with cross organization meetings, working groups, and DoW collaborative environments.
• Experience with data calls, program reviews, and taskers.

Compensation & Benefits:Pay Ranges: From $125,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership generates greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com .

Travel Required

Yes . Up to 25%

Qualifications

Behaviors

Required

Team Player : Works well as a member of a group

Functional Expert : Considered a thought leader on a subject

Enthusiastic : Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Detail Oriented : Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Motivations

Required

Self-Starter : Inspired to perform without outside help

Job Security : Inspired to perform well by the knowledge that your job is safe

Growth Opportunities : Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility

Goal Completion : Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks

Ability to Make an Impact : Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Education

Required

Bachelors or better.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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