Project Leader

MITRE; Fairborn (OH); On-site; USD 173,000 - 259,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE Corporation seeks a Project Leader for the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems (CROWS) to guide a multi-year effort improving weapon systems cyber resilience. The PL interfaces with sponsors, leadership, and cross‑functional teams to deliver data‑driven, high‑impact solutions across space, air, ground, and nuclear domains.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years in relevant fields, active Secret and Top Secret/SCI clearances, and at least four on‑site days per week to collaborate

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in system engineering, cybersecurity/resiliency, or related field with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Bias for action and focus on delivering impactful solutions in partnership with sponsor and industry.
• Demonstrated competency in technical fields critical to the program’s success (e.g., mission resilience, cybersecurity techniques).
• Proven track record of technical team leadership and sponsor engagement at high levels.
• Ability to collaborate across teams and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Refine and implement a multi-year strategy for the CROWS program and define skill/capability needs.
• Provide direction and oversight of technical efforts and ensure quality of data-driven products across the program.
• Oversee RCAT laboratory development and support prototyping and experimentation.
• Lead technical thinking to align MITRE resources with sponsor priorities.
• Collaborate with PLs and leadership to maximize impact across cyber-related efforts.
• Maintain accurate staff and budget plans with the business partner.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

PhD with 5+ years experience

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:

The Mission Resilience and Cyber Defense department (N157) is seeking a Project Leader (PL) for the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems (CROWS) Project.

Project Leaders (PLs) are the face of The MITRE Corporation. Working closely with the project team, the PL interfaces directly with the Sponsor and division and department leadership, while helping the sponsor explore and develop solutions to address their most pressing challenges and mission needs (e.g., the right problems). Thinking ahead of the current challenges, the PL leverages the unique vista point of MITRE to look across our programs and capabilities and bring the best of MITRE to bear on our sponsor priorities.

The mission of the CROWS project is to improve weapon systems cyber resilience and mission assurance through the application techniques and capabilities needed to fight through adversary cyber-attacks. Our efforts focus on assuring new systems are designed and fielded to survive the advanced, persistent cyber threat, while updating and securing currently deployed systems.

As part of the CROWS work program, MITRE performs deep cyber susceptibility assessments, identifies and prioritizes key mitigations, develops those mitigation capabilities, and partners with industry to accelerate the delivery of solutions to our sponsors. This project works across space, air, ground, and nuclear domains to deliver enterprise solutions.

The CROWS PL will work in collaboration with the A&SFC project leaders and MTE partners to ensure maximum use of MITRE resources across the corporation to deliver timely and impactful solutions. The PL will also work closely with the local sponsor to help shape the work program, influence stakeholder decisions, and provide actionable recommendations.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Refine and implement a multi-year strategy for the CROWS program to help set the long-term goals for project technical investment and define skill/capability needs.
• Provide direction and oversite of technical efforts and ensure quality of data-driven technical products and/or solutions in coordination with the department CE.
• Provide technical oversight and input to the development of the RCAT laboratory and support the development of an expanded work program in prototyping and experimentation.
• Provide strong thought/technical leadership to shape the work program to ensure MITRE is addressing the sponsor’s most challenging technical issues aligned with Department, Division, A&SFC, and MNS Priorities.
• Collaborate, coordinate, and communicate with applicable PLs and division/department leadership frequently to maximize impacts across all cyber-related efforts.
• Work with our business partner to maintain accurate staff and budget plans, utilizing MTE resources where needed to bring the best expertise to bear on our work.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in system engineering, cybersecurity/resiliency, or related field with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• A bias for action and focus on delivery of impactful solutions in partnership with the sponsor, fellow FFRDCs, and industry.
• Demonstrated competency in technical fields that are critical to the program’s success (e.g., mission resilience, cyber security/resiliency techniques and operations).
• Demonstrated record of successful technical team leadership.
• Demonstrated successful sponsor engagement and influence at the O6 and SES level.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams and projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Motivation to expand knowledge and skills and assume responsibility.
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Must be eligible 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 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret/SCI Clearance
• Working knowledge of MITRE business and financial tools.
• Demonstrated technical breadth in reverse engineering, mitigation development and transition, and operational technology/critical infrastructure system cybersecurity.
• Demonstrated ability to align diverse MITRE resources to tackle large challenges to maximize impact and deliver results that could not be achieved otherwise.
• MS +8 years of experience in system engineering, cyber security, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience acting as task leader or associate project leader on a large effort.
• Experience with the MITRE internal research projects, and familiarity with MTE capabilities.
• Track record of innovative thinking.

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

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:

$172,800 - $216,000 - $259,200 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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