Senior Emerging Technology & Defense Innovation Analyst

Ironclad Defense Works; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Professional development

Job summary

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a Senior Emerging Technology & Defense Innovation Analyst to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. The role focuses on assessing emerging technologies and translating research into actionable recommendations, experimentation opportunities, and practical adoption pathways.

The candidate should identify credible tech developments, analyze military relevance, and develop technology adoption pathways while maintaining strong briefing and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with relevant experience in technology/defense domains.
• Strong ability to acquire, assemble, evaluate, and interpret research and technology information.
• Experience analyzing future science, technology, or emerging-technology developments.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and catalogue emerging and disruptive technologies.
• Analyze scientific and technical developments for military relevance.
• Assess technology opportunities, limitations, risks, and operational implications.
• Connect emerging technologies to capability shortfalls and future operational needs.
• Develop practical examples and recommendations for technology adoption.
• Support technology experimentation in realistic operational environments.
• Contribute to strategic foresight, defense planning, capability development, concept development, and analysis of alternatives.
• Research information from defense laboratories, academic institutions, government organizations, industry, media, and allied nations.
• Develop briefings, reports, assessments, and educational materials.
• Maintain technology knowledge resources and support information exchange among national, academic, and industry stakeholders.

Skills

Technical assessment

Research analysis

Briefing & communication

English proficiency

MS Office proficiency

Open-source intel

Defense labs knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT/engineering/physical science/data science or related

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Senior Emerging Technology & Defense Innovation Analyst

Location: Norfolk, Virginia

Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site

Clearance: ACTIVE SECRET CLEARANCE REQUIRED

Travel: Up to 30 days annually

The Opportunity

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking a Senior Emerging Technology & Defense Innovation Analyst to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. You will assess emerging and disruptive technologies and help determine how new scientific and technical developments may be applied to current and future military challenges.

The position requires a professional who is a technically grounded defense analyst who can identify credible technology developments, evaluate their operational relevance, and translate complex research into clear recommendations, experimentation opportunities, and practical adoption pathways.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and catalogue emerging and disruptive technologies.
• Analyze scientific and technical developments for military relevance.
• Assess technology opportunities, limitations, risks, and operational implications.
• Connect emerging technologies to capability shortfalls and future operational needs.
• Develop practical examples and recommendations for technology adoption.
• Support technology experimentation in realistic operational environments.
• Contribute to strategic foresight, defense planning, capability development, concept development, and analysis of alternatives.
• Research information from defense laboratories, academic institutions, government organizations, industry, media, and allied nations.
• Develop briefings, reports, assessments, and educational materials.
• Maintain technology knowledge resources and support information exchange among national, academic, and industry stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, physical science, data science, or a closely related technical discipline and at least four years of relevant experience; or at least six years of extensive and progressive relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• At least two years of experience acquiring, assembling, evaluating, or interpreting research and technology information.
• Experience analyzing future science, technology, or emerging-technology developments.
• Ability to assess how technology may be applied within a military or national-security environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop technology adoption pathways, operational use cases, or experimentation recommendations.
• Familiarity with science and technology information sources, including research laboratories, academic institutions, defense organizations, government agencies, and industry.
• Strong research, analytical writing, briefing, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and internet-based research tools.
• Active NATO or national Secret clearance.
• Citizenship in a NATO member nation.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of technology research, assessment, or innovation-analysis experience.
• Prior NATO, DoD, military, defense-ministry, or allied-government experience.
• Experience in defense innovation, capability development, operational analysis, strategic foresight, experimentation, or concept development.
• Knowledge of one or more emerging technology areas, including artificial intelligence, autonomy, quantum technologies, biotechnology, space, hypersonics, advanced communications, energy, or advanced materials.
• Experience briefing senior military or civilian leaders.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

Clearance

This position requires an active National SECRET (or higher) security clearance. Applicants who do not possess the clearance specified above cannot be considered at this time.

Compensation

Compensation for this position ranges from $100,000 - $135,000 annually. Final salary will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, qualifications, contract requirements, and overall affordability.

Eligible full-time employees may also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.

Ironclad Defense Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer.