Radical Interoperability Capability Development Director

Lockheed Martin; Arizona; On-site; USD 180,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive programs

Paid time off and holidays

Vacation and sick leave policy

Job summary

Lockheed Martin is seeking a customer-focused strategic leader to translate warfighter needs into fielded capabilities. You will drive product development, oversee program performance, and lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced defense environment.

The role emphasizes mentorship, innovation, and collaboration with government customers and industry partners to deliver cutting-edge capabilities.

Qualifications

• Deep technical knowledge across capability domains (10+ years).
• Experience building business cases with ROI analyses and funding (CRAD, SBIR/STTR).
• Led cross-functional teams on complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Hands-on from ideation to prototype-ready solutions.
• Strong written and oral communication capable of influencing senior leaders.
• Proactive, creative problem solver with strategic thinking.
• Experience in foresight, market analysis, threat modeling.
• Visionary with ability to anticipate future capability needs.

Responsibilities

• Craft and communicate a multi-horizon product vision, strategy, and roadmap addressing mission needs.
• Manage multi-year investments across research, prototyping, and production to close capability gaps.
• Guide technology teams from concept to capability delivery.
• Conduct early market/technical analyses, build business cases and ROI models, secure funding.
• Own the innovation funnel and align concepts with business objectives.
• Monitor program performance (cost, schedule, technical health) and define success criteria.
• Build relationships with external partners, govt customers, and stakeholders.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams for IRAD projects using spiral development and PV testing.
• Institute standardized processes across acquisition with TRL and readiness metrics.
• Mentor staff and create development pathways for capability experts.

Skills

Technical leadership

Business case development

Cross-functional leadership

Prototype development

Communication skills

Creative problem solving

Strategic foresight

Threat modeling

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Science/Engineering/Tech

Job description

Standard Job Description

In today’s contested battlespace, speed is the warfighter’s decisive edge. By designing cutting‑edge systems, deploying them rapidly, and dominating the operational spectrum, we turn swift innovation into battlefield advantage.

Standard Job Description

In today’s contested battlespace, speed is the warfighter’s decisive edge. By designing cutting‑edge systems, deploying them rapidly, and dominating the operational spectrum, we turn swift innovation into battlefield advantage.

Key Responsibilities Of This Role Include

• Crafting and communicating a multi‑horizon product vision, strategy, and roadmap that address mission needs.


• Managing multi‑year investment portfolios across research, prototyping, and production to close top customer capability gaps.


• Guiding technology teams from concept ideation to capability delivery.


• Conducting early‑stage market/technical analyses, building business cases, ROI models, and securing funding; using a “left‑of‑requirements” approach to capture prospects before formal requirements are issued.


• Owning the innovation funnel, steering concepts through prototype and aligning them with business objectives.


• Monitoring program performance (cost, schedule, technical health) and defining success criteria, KPIs, and value drivers.


• Building and maintaining relationships with external partners (industry, universities, national labs), executive stakeholders, and government customers.


• Leading multidisciplinary teams for IRAD projects using spiral development and proof‑of‑value testing.


• Instituting standardized product development, transition, and integration processes across the acquisition enterprise, with metrics for technology maturity (TRL) and capability readiness.


• Mentoring senior staff, fostering a culture of foresight, innovation, and customer centricity, and creating development pathways for emerging capability experts.

The role demands a customer‑centric strategic leader who thrives in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments, with proven ability to translate warfighter needs into fielded capabilities, backed by strong program management, systems engineering, and product development expertise.

Basic Qualifications

• Deep technical knowledge in relevant capability – 10yrs+


• Proven track record of developing business cases including cost benefit analyses and ROI models, managing multi-million-dollar budgets and securing internal/external funding (CRAD, SBIR/STTR, co-funded programs)


• Demonstrated ability to assemble, lead, and motivate cross functional teams that deliver high complexity projects


• Hands‑on experience taking concepts from ideation to fully developed, prototype ready solutions


• Strong written and oral communication skills, capable of influencing senior leadership, customers, and external partners


• Naturally proactive with a passion for creative problem‑solving and outside‑the‑box thinking


• Expertise in strategic foresight, market analysis, and threat modeling.


• Visionary thinking with ability to anticipate future capability needs.

Desired Skills

• Broad technical experience in multiple domains


• BS, MS or PhD; preferred Science, Engineering or Technology discipline


• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance


• Product Management experience in defense or other industries


• Networking skills


• Negotiation skills


• Willingness to operate within a structured process


• Willingness to take a \"risky\" position and advocate the new idea


• Business Savvy


• Self-starter, able to work with little direct supervision


• Credibility internally and externally


• Preferred previous experience in capability development

Pay Information

GeoZone Definition: GeoZones are geographic groupings created by Lockheed Martin to align compensation ranges with regional labor markets and cost‑of‑labor differences across the United States. Locations are assigned a Geo Zone based on the primary work location of the role.

• Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 1): $180000.00 - $325000.00
  
  
  
  • Includes metropolitan areas such as Sunnyvale CA; Pal Alto, CA; New York City metropolitan area; Newark, New Jersey; etc.
  
  
  
  


• Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 2): $180000.00 - $325000.00
  
  
  
  • Includes metropolitan areas such as Denver, CO; King of Prussia, PA; Stratford, CT; Moorestown, NJ; etc.
  
  
  
  


• Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 3): $180000.00 - $325000.00
  
  
  
  • Includes metropolitan areas such as Dallas–Fort Worth, TX; Orlando, FL; Grand Prairie, TX; Marietta, GA; etc.
  
  
  
  


• Full-time salary range (GEOZONE 4): $180000.00 - $325000.00
  
  
  
  • Includes metropolitan areas such as Camden, AR; Lexington, KY; Ocala, FL; Lufkin, TX; etc.
  
  
  
  

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only.

Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.


• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.