Functional Expert I

ecsfederal; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth ECS is seeking a Functional Expert I to lead day-to-day program coordination on a DARPA MXO project from Arlington, VA. You will combine program leadership with RF engineering judgment to evaluate progress, manage risk, and prepare technologies for transition.

You will join an integrated team working with DARPA program managers from concept through execution, testing, and closeout. The role requires citizenship for security clearance and involves travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant defense R&D program experience.
• U.S. citizenship required for security clearance eligibility.
• Experience planning, directing, and coordinating personnel on complex defense R&D efforts.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and review of task-order expenses.
• Program-management experience on work of comparable size, scope, and complexity.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve program issues without compromising fiscal integrity or workforce efficiency.
• Technical depth in RF systems and engineering.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day program coordination across technical, programmatic, financial, contracting, security, and transition activities.
• Apply RF and engineering experience to evaluate technical evidence and connect advances to operational needs.
• Plan and coordinate multidisciplinary support personnel while maintaining fiscal discipline and compliance.
• Help prepare program reviews, test-ready activities, executive briefings, and responses to government inquiries.
• Advise program managers on planning, technical execution, cost, schedule, risk, and transition throughout the lifecycle.
• Assess performer progress through site visits, tests, and results; identify concerns early and propose risk-reduction actions.
• Coordinate with performers, government partners, test organizations, transition stakeholders, and other experts to move efforts toward objectives.
• Develop technical and programmatic products for DARPA leadership and external stakeholders (briefings, reports, assessments).
• Support new program concepts by researching emerging science and evaluating military relevance and feasibility.
• Provide independent, objective advice while protecting sensitive information and complying with requirements.
• Travel may include locations within and outside the continental US and occasional international travel.

Skills

RF systems engineering

Program management

Technical writing

Citizenship for security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Everforth ECS is seeking a Functional Expert I to work in our Arlington, Virginia office.

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000

Position Overview

Everforth ECS is seeking a Functional Expert I to help a DARPA program manager turn ambitious radio-frequency and engineering concepts into well-run research programs. You will combine program leadership with technical judgment, helping the Government evaluate progress, manage risk, coordinate testing, and prepare technologies for transition.

You will join an integrated scientific, engineering, and program support team that works alongside DARPA program managers from early concept development through program execution, testing, transition, and closeout.

About DARPA MXO

DARPA's Multi X Office applies the physical sciences across scales and disciplines to create mission-relevant capabilities. Its work extends from materials at the atomic, molecular, and cellular scales to components, tools, processes, systems, and architectures that can reshape future military operations and strengthen the U.S. technology base.

• Materials and components beyond traditional CMOS foundations, with an emphasis on resilient, secure, and attack-resistant systems
• New tools, processes, manufacturing approaches, and domestic supply chains for critical technologies
• New modalities for sensing, orienting, computing, communicating, and producing mission effects
• Technical domains that include effects, energy, quantum science, organics and materials, new compute, robotics, and photonics

Depending on program assignment, your work may involve these areas or other emerging MXO priorities. Learn more about DARPA MXO

What You Will Do

• Lead day-to-day program coordination across technical, programmatic, financial, contracting, security, and transition activities.
• Apply RF and engineering experience to challenge assumptions, evaluate technical evidence, and connect component-level advances to operational needs.
• Plan and coordinate the work of multidisciplinary support personnel while maintaining fiscal discipline, regulatory compliance, and continuity of execution.
• Help prepare program reviews, test-ready activities, executive briefings, and responses to time-sensitive Government inquiries.
• Advise DARPA program managers on program planning, technical execution, cost, schedule, risk, and transition considerations throughout the R&D lifecycle.
• Assess performer progress through technical reviews, site visits, laboratory results, tests, demonstrations, and other program events; identify concerns early and recommend practical risk-reduction actions.
• Coordinate with performers, Government partners, test organizations, transition stakeholders, and other technical experts to keep complex efforts moving toward measurable program objectives.
• Develop clear technical and programmatic products for DARPA leadership and external stakeholders, including review briefings, decision materials, trip reports, technical assessments, and program documentation.
• Support the development of new program concepts by researching emerging science and technology, evaluating military relevance and feasibility, and contributing to trade studies, sensitivity analyses, and new-start materials.
• Provide independent, objective advice while protecting sensitive information and complying with all security, organizational conflict-of-interest, and Government requirements.
• Travel may include locations within and outside the continental United States and occasional international travel in support of program reviews, tests, demonstrations, or partner engagement.

• Bachelor's degree
• 10 or more years of relevant experience
• U.S. citizenship required for security-clearance eligibility
• Experience planning, directing, and coordinating personnel supporting complex defense R&D efforts.
• Experience exercising responsibility for regulatory compliance and review of task-order expenses.
• Program-management experience on work of comparable size, scope, and complexity.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve program issues without compromising fiscal integrity or workforce efficiency.
• Technical depth in radio frequency systems and engineering.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and executive audiences.