Principal Defense Acquisition Transformation Lead

MITRE; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 173,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking an experienced defense acquisition expert to join the Acquisition Studies & Analysis department. You will lead transformation within regulatory frameworks, advance software acquisition delivery, and collaborate with sponsors, industry, and academia to improve capability delivery.

The role requires a deep understanding of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, strong cross‑functional leadership, and the ability to advise senior leaders on portfolio prioritization and modernization

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of related experience with Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years with Master’s; or 5 years with PhD.
• Experience navigating DoW acquisition processes in programs or enterprise settings.
• Working knowledge of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) and Software Acquisition Pathway.
• Experience with OTAs, FAR-based strategies, and innovation pathways to enable adaptive delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead acquisition transformation within statutory and regulatory frameworks.
• Shape and scale acquisition execution models across sponsor portfolios.
• Advance software acquisition delivery and interoperability across the DoD.
• Influence governance structures and oversight to align control mechanisms with modern engineering.

Skills

Acquisition strategy

Stakeholder engagement

DoD policy knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree or PhD (preferred)

Job description

MITRE is seeking an experienced defense acquisition expert to join the Acquisition Studies & Analysis department. You will lead transformation within regulatory frameworks, advance software acquisition delivery, and collaborate with sponsors, industry, and academia to improve capability delivery.

The role requires a deep understanding of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, strong cross‑functional leadership, and the ability to advise senior leaders on portfolio prioritization and modernization