Group Lead - Axiom Group

STR; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 280,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

STR is seeking a Group Lead to build and lead a high-impact team to tackle complex test and evaluation challenges. You will assemble the initial cadre, stand up and grow a thriving P&L organization, and expand STR’s capabilities across classified test and evaluation fields.

This role requires TS/SSBI clearance, a proven history of leading technical professionals, and a track record of translating national security threats into long-term roadmaps while delivering results in fast-paced, secure

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SSBI
• Proven track record managing specialized technical talent
• 10+ years of classified test experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of experience, or Master’s 13 years, or PhD 10 years
• DoD or equivalent test school-house graduate

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead elite R&D teams
• Drive business growth through proposal capture and customer relationships
• Manage full group P&L, budgets, schedules, and milestones
• Ensure compliance with FAR regulations and secure workflows in classified environments
• Coach and develop direct reports and oversee career progression
• Overnight travel as required

Skills

Top Secret clearance management

People leadership

Strategic planning

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 15 years

Master’s degree with 13 years

PhD with 10 years

Tools

SAP/SAR compliance workflows

Job description

STR is seeking a Group Lead to build and lead a high‑impact team to tackle the most complex test and evaluation challenges in the modern world. In this role, you will assemble the initial cadre, stand up and grow a thriving P&L organization, and expand STR’s capabilities across the classified test and evaluation field. You will focus on fielding an expert, scalable team that can plan, analyze, and deliver decision‑quality results at the speed the DoW needs to field advancements that continue to outpace our adversaries. STR’s approach will emphasize product‑based delivery of test solutions via an experienced, trusted team that can rapidly adapt to evolving customer needs.

What You Will Do

• Establish and lead elite R&D Teams: Mentor, evaluate, and scale a high-performing group of specialized scientists, researchers, and engineers
• Drive Business Growth: Spearhead proposal capture for BAAs/RFPs and build trusted relationships with customers in problem definition, solution concept ideation, and concepts for testing in a diverse set of conditions Decompose customer needs/complex problems and develop system concepts and solutions
• Responsible for Successful Group Execution: Manage full group P&L, tracking multi-million-dollar program budgets, schedules, and technical milestones
• Guard Security Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to FAR regulations and secure workflows within SAP/SAR and SCI environments
• Build team capability through coaching, mentoring, and creating development opportunities; conduct performance reviews and manage career progression for all direct reports
• Overnight travel as required

Who You Are

• This position requires an Active Top Secret Clearance: You must possess a current, fully adjudicated TS with an SSBI clearance, enabling immediate impact in highly classified environments.
• An Experienced People Leader: Proven track record of managing specialized technical talent, driving retention, and balancing complex resource allocations
• A Mission-Driven Strategist: Adept at translating emerging national security threats into long-term technological and division roadmaps
• A Technical Working Manager: Possess deep credibility in an advanced test and evaluation engineering domain, allowing you to easily bridge high-level strategy with deep-tech execution
• An Established Customer Partner: Trusted by government PMs and defense stakeholders to reliably deliver cutting‑edge national security solutions
• Skilled in Sensitive Program Execution: Adept at achieving program objectives while maintaining the security and integrity of sensitive technologies and systems
• Experience with Development and Operational testing across Western Test Ranges (CA, NV, UT, CO)
• Department of War/IC Proposal Champion: Hold a documented history of successfully winning and scaling multi-million dollar contracts as a Program Manager or Capture Lead
• Cross-Domain Engineering Mastery: Bring deep technical expertise in a critical focus area
• 10+ years of Classified Test Experience: Firsthand experience executing and managing test programs and test execution in support of highly sensitive projects
• Minimum education and experience: Bachelor’s degree and 15 years; Master’s degree and 13 years; or PhD and 10 years and applicable experience directly related to Research, Development, Testing, and Experimentation (RDT&E)
• Graduate of a DoD or equivalent test school-house

Full-Time Salary Range: $280,000 - $340,000

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [e-mail] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.