L582 Chief Capability Engineer

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 274,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE in Massachusetts seeks a visionary Capability Chief Engineer to define and drive technical strategy across the Enterprise Program & Risk Management department. You will lead with emphasis on systems engineering, program management, and mission outcomes, collaborating with division chiefs and sponsors.

This senior role requires TS/SCI clearance, 3 days on-site, and a proven track record shaping complex programs across government and industry. You will mentor staff and guide priorities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of related experience with relevant education.
• Experience in national defense, acquisition, or government programs.
• Clear ability to develop technical strategies and drive mission outcomes.
• Top Secret, TS/SCI eligibility and US citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the department's technical strategy and execution.
• Mentor staff and guide internal research from ideation to execution.
• Collaborate with division chiefs and sponsors to advance MITRE capabilities.

Skills

Technical leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross‑functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Systems engineering

Program management

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

L582 contains MITRE Enterprise Program and Risk Management thought leaders. The department is composed of recognized subject matter experts, who are proficient in a suite of program and risk management skills including: project planning and execution, leading people, project communications, scope management employing Agile, establishing program metrics, and more. The Enterprise Program & Risk Management department provides support across a wide range of MITRE portfolios, employing ~ 50 highly qualified and experienced staff.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The Enterprise Program and Risk Management Department (L582) is seeking a visionary technical leader to serve as the Department’s Capability Chief Engineer (CCE). The CCE will work with the Department Manager, Division Director, and the Division Chief Engineer to define and drive the technical strategy, execution and application of the department core competencies to lead in the area of project and program management initiatives. The successful candidate is a proven technical leader with demonstrated technical expertise in these areas, inspirational leadership, creativity, and the flexibility to work across evolving and diverse problems sets. The CCE will collaborate with the Division Chief Engineer, other Division Department Managers, and Division Chief Capability Engineers (CCEs) to bring division/department capabilities to bear on MITRE’s FFRDC work programs. The CE will be accountable for the utility and quality of the capabilities supported by the department and the shared frameworks, methodologies, and technical approaches. While not a formal people-management role, the CCE will contribute to staff development and provide technical mentorship across the department. In addition to direct work programs within the FFRDCs, the CCE will engage with the internal research and development program, to influence and shape the research priorities and programs as well as mentor and guide staff all the way from the ideation phase through to proposing and executing internal research projects. The CCE will also collaborate with our mission partners to pursue program management initiatives, research, and colloquiums to advance our presence as a leader in this arena. The CCE will also provide individual, senior principal technical support directly to MITRE’s work programs. The CCE’s time spent on direct sponsor contributions should be in technical leadership within the set of department capabilities.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 10 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 7 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• 10+ years of experience in technical leadership roles supporting national defense, acquisition, or related government programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: systems engineering, mission engineering, cyber, agile software development, modeling and simulation, supply chain risk management, or program/project management.
• Proven ability to develop technical strategies that drive innovation and measurable mission outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and successfully solve complex technical challenges across business lines and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs and synthesize how disparate activities support a strategic mission objective or outcome.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate highly complex technical challenges effectively.
• Understanding of national security priorities and intelligence community organizational policies, priorities, and missions.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A graduate degree in related fields or certifications in Acquisition, Government Contracting, Decision Analysis.
• Familiarity with national security operational environments, threats, and complexities.
• Successful participation in end-to-end system development activities from CONOPS to operations.
• Understanding of organizational policies, priorities, and missions for US Government organizations in the work program.
• Project Management Professional or similar certification.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain and leverage a strong professional network to provide thought leadership across the acquisition enterprise.
• Demonstrated ability leading critical program management related efforts with visibility and trust at high levels of government and/or industry.
• Experience with defining work programs, oversight of KPI’s, and execution of strategic outcomes. Experience with multi-level customer/sponsor and/or enterprise-wide engagements.
• Demonstrated experience with MITRE’s business operations protocols, cadence, systems, and working model.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$182,400 - $228,000 - $273,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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