Principal Autonomous Systems Strategist

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 191,000 - 287,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a senior leader to guide autonomous systems and AI initiatives across government mission areas. You will shape strategies, evaluate technologies, and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver high-impact solutions.

The role requires deep expertise in autonomy, AI, and cybersecurity with a focus on safety, policy, and operational effectiveness. On-site work is required three days per week at our McLean, VA location.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years experience in Autonomy and AI with degree, or 8 years with a Master’s, or 5 years with a PhD, or equivalent autonomy-related education/work
• Demonstrated experience with autonomous systems, AI-enabled systems, or robotics across the capability lifecycle
• Experience with autonomous platforms operating in air, ground, maritime, or space domains
• Broad understanding of autonomous systems across multiple domains (DoD, Services, IC, DHS, transportation, industry, academia)
• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication, ability to translate jargon for sponsors and stakeholders
• Applied expertise in counter autonomy (e.g., cUAS) and/or cybersecurity for autonomous systems
• Ability to translate complex concepts into strategic recommendations
• Experience shaping work with sponsors even with incomplete requirements
• Demonstrated leadership skills in teams, schedules, risks, and budgets
• Experience developing autonomy-focused research initiatives
• U.S. Citizen eligible for Secret clearance; must be able to obtain/maintain clearance
• On-site work requirement: minimum 3 days per week

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives advancing autonomous systems development, acquisition, integration, and deployment across government missions
• Define and execute strategy for high-consequence autonomy applications, including assurance, test, and sociotechnical implications
• Provide technical leadership on cross-functional teams to evaluate and improve autonomous systems
• Maintain knowledge of autonomy/robotics advances to help sponsors adopt emerging tech
• Engage sponsors, industry partners, and internal leadership on strategic and policy considerations
• Translate AI/autonomy tech into operational capabilities aligned with acquisition and governance
• Assess technologies and proposals for mission alignment, feasibility, and operational capability
• Collaborate with engineers, researchers, operators, and program managers on innovative sponsor solutions

Skills

Autonomy

AI

Leadership

Technical writing

Communication

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

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.

Department Summary:

MITRE’s Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, and Data Technical Division's Autonomous and Intelligent Department is an innovative team of engineers focused on the development of cutting-edge autonomous systems, robotics capabilities, and AI solutions for a safer world. The Autonomous and Intelligent Systems Department has a new opportunity for a strong technical candidate with a STEM degree to join an innovative team of engineers focused on developing Artificial Intelligence and/or Autonomous System solutions for sponsor needs. The right candidate will enjoy a fast-paced team environment and work with groundbreaking technology.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic initiatives that advance the development, acquisition, integration, and responsible deployment of autonomous systems across government mission areas
• Help department and division define and execute strategy around enabling high-consequence applications of autonomy, including necessary assurance, test and evaluation, and sociotechnical implications
• Provide technical leadership on cross-functional teams evaluating and improving the performance of autonomous systems
• Maintain knowledge of advances in autonomy and robotics capabilities to help sponsors implement strategies and act on emerging technologies
• Engage cross-government sponsors, industry partners, and internal leadership on the strategic, technical, operational, and policy considerations associated with autonomous systems and AI-enabled capabilities
• Create and execute strategies that translate emerging AI and autonomy technologies into operational capabilities aligning technical approaches with acquisition pathways, governance frameworks, standardization, test and evaluation, and mission needs
• Critically assess and review technologies and proposals to ensure mission alignment, technical feasibility, and operational capability
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, researchers, operators, and program managers to develop innovative solutions that address complex sponsor challenges

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years experience in Autonomy and AI with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of autonomy-related education and work experience
• Demonstrated experience with autonomous systems, AI-enabled systems, or robotics across the capability lifecycle including research and development, strategy, policy, acquisition, systems engineering, test and evaluation, operations, program management, technology transition, or sustainment
• Experience with autonomous platforms operating in air, ground, maritime, or space domains
• Broad understanding of autonomous systems across multiple domains (Department of War, Services, Intelligence Community, DHS, transportation, industry, and academia)
• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors and stakeholders, translate technical jargon for a range of audiences, and interpret and propose definitions in a repeatable and descriptive manner
• Applied expertise in counter autonomy (e.g., cUAS) and/or cybersecurity for autonomous systems
• Ability to understand complex technical concepts and translate them into strategic recommendations for a range of audiences
• Demonstrated ability to shape and define work in collaboration with sponsors or stakeholders, even in the absence of fully defined requirements
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including leading teams, developing and managing schedules, communicating risks, and managing budgets
• Experience developing, proposing, and executing autonomy-focused research initiatives
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret 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:

• Advanced degree in related field such as Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, etc.
• Knowledge of advances of autonomy and AI evaluation capabilities in industry and academia
• Applied knowledge of government AI and autonomy policy, acquisition pathways, operational concepts, or test and evaluation practices
• Experience influencing organizational strategy or contributing to government policy development related to emerging technologies
• Experience developing technology roadmaps, evaluating emerging technologies, and conducting technology assessments
• Prior work collaborating across government, industry, and academia
• Active DOD Top Secret clearance

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

None

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

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$191,200 - $239,000 - $286,800 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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