Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME

CACI International Inc; Hawaii; On-site; USD 103,000 - 217,000; Full time

Job summary

CACI International Inc. is seeking a Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME to accelerate capability development across the Indo-Pacific.

You will bridge operational requirements with prototyping, experimentation, and fielding activities, reporting to the Mission Enabling and Training Lead. The role involves collaborating with Government stakeholders, defense labs, industry partners, and academia to rapidly assess challenges, develop engineering solutions, and enable rapid technology insertion

Qualifications

• Experience providing systems engineering across lifecycle (requirements, architecture, integration, verification, validation, transition).
• Experience briefing senior Government leadership on technical solutions and innovation initiatives.
• Experience with technology transition processes and mission engineering principles.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts involving hardware, software, autonomy, AI, robotics, and sensors.

Responsibilities

• Lead rapid engineering assessments to identify innovative solutions addressing capability gaps.
• Evaluate emerging technologies for application to logistics, facilities, and mission support.
• Develop approaches supporting rapid prototyping, demonstrations, experimentation, and fielding.
• Integrate hardware, software, communications, sensors, robotics, autonomy, AI, and data analytics into mission operations.
• Support technology transition planning from prototype to deployment and sustainment.
• Coordinate with government labs, industry partners, and academia to identify emerging capabilities.
• Prepare engineering documentation, reports, integration plans, and executive briefings.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technology integration

Rapid prototyping

Technical leadership

Brief senior leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering

Master's Degree in related field (desirable)

Tools

Cameo Systems Modeler

DOORS

Jira

Confluence

MATLAB

GitLab

Azure DevOps

Power BI

ArcGIS

SharePoint

Microsoft 365 apps

Job description

Job Title: Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME

Job Category: Engineering

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCI

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 25%

Type of Travel: Outside Continental US

The Opportunity

CACI is seeking an experienced Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME to support mission innovation, technology integration, and rapid capability development across the Indo-Pacific. The Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME serves as CACI's senior systems engineering professional responsible for identifying, evaluating, integrating, and transitioning emerging technologies that enhance logistics, mission support, facilities, operational readiness, and contested logistics capabilities. Reporting directly to the Mission Enabling and Training Lead, this position accelerates the delivery of innovative solutions by bridging operational requirements with engineering, prototyping, experimentation, and fielding activities in support of Government priorities.

The Rapid Reaction Innovation Engineer, SME works closely with Government stakeholders, operational planners, engineers, research organizations, commercial technology partners, defense laboratories, academia, and mission partners to rapidly assess operational challenges, develop engineering solutions, integrate commercial and government technologies, and support operational experimentation. This position contributes to successful program execution by enabling rapid capability insertion, reducing technology transition timelines, and delivering innovative solutions that improve operational effectiveness throughout the Indo-Pacific theater.

Responsibilities

• Lead rapid engineering assessments to identify and develop innovative solutions addressing operational capability gaps.
• Evaluate emerging commercial, government, and dual-use technologies for application to logistics, facilities, mission support, and operational requirements.
• Develop systems engineering approaches supporting rapid prototyping, technology demonstrations, experimentation, and operational fielding.
• Integrate hardware, software, communications, sensor, robotics, autonomy, artificial intelligence, and data analytics solutions into mission operations.
• Support operational experimentation, technology demonstrations, proof-of-concept activities, and prototype evaluations.
• Collaborate with Government laboratories, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), service laboratories, industry partners, and academic institutions to identify emerging capabilities.
• Perform systems engineering analyses, requirements development, trade studies, and technical risk assessments.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering efforts supporting rapid capability development and technology integration.
• Develop engineering documentation, technical reports, integration plans, architecture products, and executive-level briefings.
• Support technology transition planning from prototype through operational deployment and sustainment.
• Assess operational performance of emerging technologies and recommend improvements based on user feedback and mission outcomes.
• Ensure engineering solutions comply with cybersecurity, interoperability, safety, and Government technical standards.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineering teams supporting innovation initiatives.
• Support contingency operations and emergent mission requirements requiring accelerated technology integration.
• Promote innovation, agile engineering practices, and continuous improvement to enhance mission effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience supporting systems engineering, technology integration, research and development, innovation, rapid prototyping, or capability development for Government or Department of Defense programs.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense, Joint, Combatant Command, Service Component, Special Operations organizations, or Defense Research organizations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts involving hardware, software, communications, autonomy, artificial intelligence, robotics, sensors, or advanced technology integration.
• Experience supporting technology demonstrations, operational experimentation, prototype development, or rapid capability fielding.
• Experience applying systems engineering principles throughout the system lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture development, integration, verification, validation, and transition.
• Demonstrated ability to brief senior Government leadership, Flag Officers, Senior Executive Service personnel, and program executives on technical solutions, innovation initiatives, and engineering recommendations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of systems engineering methodologies, technology transition processes, and mission engineering principles.

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Master's Degree in Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, or a related technical field is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting USSOCOM, SOCPAC, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), DARPA, service laboratories, Joint Task Forces, or Combatant Command innovation initiatives.
• Experience supporting contested logistics, multidomain operations, autonomous systems, unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital engineering, or mission engineering initiatives.
• Experience utilizing Cameo Systems Modeler, DOORS, Jira, Confluence, MATLAB, GitLab, Azure DevOps, Power BI, ArcGIS, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365 applications.
• Professional certifications such as INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or equivalent engineering and innovation certifications are preferred.
• Experience transitioning prototype technologies into operational use within TS/SCI environments is highly desirable.
• Experience integrating commercial technologies, autonomous systems, advanced communications, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, or digital engineering solutions supporting Special Operations Forces and Indo-Pacific missions is highly desirable.

What You Can Expect

A culture of integrity

At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer's missions and driven by a higher purpose - to ensure the safety of our nation.

An environment of trust

CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.

A focus on continuous growth

Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground - in your career and in our legacy.

Pay Range

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.

The Proposed Salary Range For This Position Is

$103,400 - $217,100

CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.