Director, Spectrum Dominance Division

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) is seeking a Director for the Spectrum Dominance Division to lead research initiatives focused on national security. This role requires a doctoral degree and proven leadership in research programs.

Key responsibilities include managing funding opportunities, supporting mentorship, and overseeing a diverse range of research activities within a collaborative environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to secure competitive research funding.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Proven success leading sponsored research programs as Principal Investigator.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and impact new funding opportunities.
• Develop strategies for sustainment and growth of research programs.
• Manage research activities of students and faculty.

Skills

Research leadership

Communication skills

Collaboration skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Doctoral degree in relevant fields

Job description

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nation’s preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development to advance national security. VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research, empowering the next generation of experts, and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. It encompasses three research divisions—Intelligent Systems, Mission Systems, and Spectrum Dominance—alongside the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology. The Director of the Spectrum Dominance Division is responsible for overall leadership of division personnel, students, programs, and research direction, and is a member of VTNSI’s executive leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Identify and impact new funding opportunities as early in the program development cycle as possible.
• Work with institute faculty and the executive leadership team to develop strategies for sustainment and growth of research and experiential learning programs, along with agency specific engagement strategies.
• Serve as principal and co‑principal investigator on proposals and awarded grants and contracts.
• Support student mentorship and research on awarded programs by conducting basic and applied research, authoring technical documents and presentations, and publishing peer‑reviewed papers.
• Support faculty mentorship on business development and program execution.
• Have ultimate responsibility for the division budget, including ensuring that overhead labor expenditures and operating costs are within budget.
• Manage research activities of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other research faculty for which the individual serves as principal investigator.
• Serve as the line supervisor for researchers in the division.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated record of research leadership, excellence, and impact in areas relevant to radio frequency communications.
• Track record of building and growing research portfolios, establishing long‑term sponsor partnerships, and securing competitive funding.
• Proven success leading sponsored research programs as Principal Investigator, including delivery of results to defense, intelligence, or other national security sponsors.
• U.S. citizenship and active Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive, progressively responsible, research leadership experience in government, industry, academia, or non‑profit settings.
• Experience mentoring and developing faculty, researchers, and students in interdisciplinary environments.
• Recognized reputation for integrity, innovation, and thought leadership within the national security research community.
• Experience managing budgets, employee levels of effort, and managing adequate staffing across multiple programs.
• Strong connections across the national security research community, including government agencies, industry, and academia.
• Capability to perform hands‑on mentorship for both students and faculty and execution of programs and leading by example.
• Experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in technical disciplines.
• Experience working with graduate students in completing their degree requirements.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Starting at $250,000; Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week

40 hours per week

Review Date

6/5/2026

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the Institute's work, candidates must be U.S. citizens. They must also have the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact NSI Human Resources at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.