Director of Defense Growth & Strategy

Applied Research Associates, Inc.; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. seeks a Director of Defense Growth & Strategy to lead long-term opportunity development with DoD stakeholders, focusing on autonomy and robotics programs.

The role operates at the T12 Principal Professional 2 level, representing the company to government leadership and shaping requirements and acquisition approaches to position the company for sustained growth. The position requires strong DoD expertise, senior-level relationship skills, and the ability to work

Qualifications

• Must have deep DoD domain knowledge and experience engaging senior DoD leaders.
• Proven ability to shape requirements and acquisition approaches.
• Strong written and oral communication for briefs and papers.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain senior-level engagements with DoD organizations.
• Drive early opportunity shaping by informing requirements and acquisition pathways.
• Lead development of win strategies for autonomy and robotics pursuits.

Skills

DoD engagement

Strategy development

Autonomy & robotics

White papers & briefs

Senior stakeholder briefing

Education

BS or MS in Engineering, Political Science, National Security, or related field

Job description

Job Category: Marketing & Business Development

Requisition Number: DIREC010196

• Posted : October 28, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

Warrendale, PA 15086, USA

Description

Position Summary

The Director of Defense Growth & Strategy drives long-term opportunity development across key DoD stakeholders, with emphasis on identifying and shaping autonomy and robotics programs that align with Neya/ARA’s capabilities. Operating at the T12 Principal Professional 2 level, this role represents Neya/ARA as a senior technical and strategic partner to government leadership, shaping requirements and acquisition approaches to position the company for sustained growth in autonomy and robotics. This position requires strong DoD expertise, senior-level relationship skills, and the ability to work independently on complex, high-impact efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain credible, senior-level engagements with DoD organizations, including PEOs, PMs, requirements officers, S&T leaders, and technical authorities, with a focus on autonomy and robotics mission areas.
• Drive early opportunity shaping by informing requirements, budget trajectories, and acquisition pathways for autonomy and robotics programs long before formal release.
• Drive strategic engagement efforts to identify autonomy- and robotics-related mission requirements, emerging capability needs, and future program trajectories.
• Lead the development of win strategies and competitive discriminators for major autonomy and robotics pursuits, exercising sound judgment in pursue/no-pursue determinations.
• Collaborate with Capture Managers to maintain alignment between pre-RFP shaping work and subsequent capture execution for autonomy and robotics programs.
• Prepare well-substantiated white papers and technical briefs that present Neya/ARA capabilities in autonomy, robotics, modeling and simulation, and AI/ML, and support government program development.
• Lead senior-level briefings that communicate autonomy and robotics technical capabilities to government decision-makers, industry partners, and organizational leadership.
• Engage with engineering leadership to shape internal R&D and product investments based on DoD autonomy and robotics demand signals.

Knowledge & Expertise

• Applies advanced technical principles and contributes to the development of new concepts at an organizational scale.
• Recognized authority within the industry, with the ability to influence direction across multiple technical areas.

Direction Received

• Operates with minimal oversight; determines objectives, strategies, and approaches for complex assignments.
• Decisions at this level have major impact on programs, customers, and organizational long-range goals.
• Solves highly complex problems requiring creativity, innovation, and strategic insight.
• Ensures solutions support long-term organizational objectives.

Internal & External Impact

• Acts as a prime internal and external representative for technical, business, and strategic matters related to assigned domains.
• Regularly conducts senior-level briefings for government and executive leaders.

Education & Experience

• Typically 12–15+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 10–12+ years with a master’s degree.

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS in Engineering, Political Science, National Security, or a related field.
• 15–25 years of senior-level experience within the DoD ecosystem, including military, government, or industry leadership roles.
• High-level proficiency in PPBE, POM, and defense acquisition structures, enabling effective engagement with senior stakeholders.
• Proven track record of shaping program requirements and acquisition approaches for major defense initiatives, ideally involving autonomous systems, robotics, or advanced technologies.
• Established, trusted relationships with senior leaders across key DoD commands (e.g., AFC, NAVSEA, AFMC).
• Proven track record of independently driving work forward in agile, high-tempo settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in program leadership roles at DARPA, DIU, or other service-level R&D organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to interface with Congressional stakeholders overseeing defense authorization and appropriations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of autonomy-related technologies, including modeling and simulation, AI/ML, and vehicle operating system architectures.
• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $165,000–$235,000 , based on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelor of Engineering or better in Engineering or related field.

Experience

Required

15-25 years:

BS or MS in Engineering, Political Science, National Security, or a related field; 15–25 years of senior-level experience within the DoD ecosystem, including military, government, or industry leadership roles.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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