Program Analyst - R&D Portfolio Support DARPA

chimera; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

chimera is seeking a Program Analyst to support financial, acquisition, and documentation activities across a portfolio of research programs. This role requires coordination of technical, financial, and administrative functions, ensuring accurate and accessible program information.

The ideal candidate has at least 6 years of experience, a Bachelor’s degree, and strong skills in MS Office programs. Responsibilities include managing document repositories and preparing materials for high-level reviews. An active Top Secret clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in a research and development environment.
• Experience in budgeting, acquisition documents, and organizing meetings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a wide range of program artifacts.
• Coordinate schedules for high-level program reviews.
• Manage and maintain document repositories.
• Respond to documentation requests from personnel.
• Prepare memoranda, transition reports, and communication materials.

Skills

MS Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Project

Writing

Editing

Briefing preparation

Organizational skills

Time-management skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Job Summary

We are looking for Program Analysts to support financial, acquisition, and documentation activities across a portfolio of advanced research programs. This role bridges technical, financial, and administrative functions to ensure program information is accurate, accessible, and ready to support informed decisions.

Key Responsibilities

As a Program Analyst, you will help develop and maintain a wide range of program artifacts, including plans, reviews, and budget documentation. You will ensure that materials are formatted correctly, internally consistent, and delivered on time to support leadership engagements and program reviews.

You will play a major role in preparing for high‑level program reviews by coordinating schedules, consolidating inputs from multiple stakeholders, and quality‑checking briefing materials. You will compile supporting documentation, verify that information aligns with technical and financial realities, and help present a coherent picture of program status and plans.

In addition, you will respond to documentation requests from program and front‑office personnel, ensuring that requested information is located, organized, and provided within required timelines. You will manage and maintain document repositories on both classified and unclassified systems, performing periodic reviews to confirm that records are current, properly retained, and easy to retrieve.

You may also assist in preparing memoranda, transition reports, and communication materials that support stakeholder engagement and the transition of R&D efforts to external partners. Throughout, you will work closely with financial analysts, acquisition staff, and technical teams to keep program information aligned across functions.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience: Minimum 6 years of experience in a research and development environment. Experience in at least two of the following areas:
  • Developing and maintaining financial budgets and tracking milestones
  • Creating or coordinating budget and acquisition documents
  • Organizing meetings and developing briefings
  • Applying knowledge of defense policies and regulations
  • Cross‑functional communication and project management
• Security Clearance: Active Top Secret.
• Skills: Strong skills in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project. Excellent writing, editing, and briefing preparation abilities.

Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting DARPA, OSD, or Service headquarters.
• Experience managing document repositories on classified networks.