Special Assistant

Redhorse; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Redhorse Corporation is seeking a Special Assistant to the Director of the Autonomy Division to act as a liaison between the division and key partners in the Department of War. This role demands expertise in AI and autonomy, along with strong project management skills.

The successful candidate will assist in strategic planning and manage multiple tasks efficiently. A Bachelor’s degree and over 8 years of experience, with a Top Secret clearance, are required.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related experience in project management or strategic planning.
• Active Department of War Top Secret security clearance.
• Mature, organized, and personable demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Division Director in managing all division activities.
• Serve as the principal liaison with the CDAO Front Office.
• Prepare high-quality documents and communications for senior leadership.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Leadership

Understanding of AI and ML

Team building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

About the Organization

Redhorse Corporation is a solution‑driven company delivering data insights and technology solutions to customers whose missions are critical to U.S. national interests. We seek skilled professionals who thrive as trusted partners building technology‑agnostic solutions and want to apply their talents to support important mission sets.

About the Role

Special Assistant to the Director of the Autonomy Division within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD/R&E) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). The role serves as the primary liaison between the Autonomy Division and the CDAO Enterprise Front Office, as well as with key partners across the Department of War (DoW) and industry. Responsibilities include managing the division’s tempo, coordinating strategic engagements, and ensuring seamless execution of the Director’s priorities. The position requires a mature, confident leader conversant in AI and autonomy, adept at navigating complex government environments, and able to understand and communicate the technical hurdles of developing and fielding computer vision AI models and autonomous systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Support & Division Management: Assist the Division Director in managing all aspects of division activities, ensuring strategic objectives are met and operational activities are seamlessly executed.
• Front Office Liaison: Serve as the principal Autonomy Division liaison with the CDAO Front Office, coordinating, managing, and tracking tasks and schedules covering operations, plans, acquisition, budget, and project management.
• Deliverables & Communications: Prepare and coordinate high‑quality, timely documents, read‑ahead materials, memos, white papers, presentations, and other deliverables for senior General/Flag Officer and Senior Executive Service leadership, distilling complex technical and programmatic information into clear, concise communications for a variety of audiences.
• Department of War (DoW) Coordination: Coordinate with a wide range of external organizations, including leading DoW autonomy organizations across the Services, combatant commands, and Defense Agencies & Field Activities, especially program offices, R&D, T&E, and research laboratories.
• Industry & Partner Engagement: Act as key point of contact for coordinating with industry vendor partners for autonomy, facilitating strategic partnerships and ensuring alignment with CDAO objectives.
• Strategic Planning: Support the Director in long‑range strategic planning and cross‑functional operations, providing insights on strategic milestones and helping align division efforts with broader CDAO and DoW AI/ML and autonomy strategies.

Required Experience/Clearance

• US citizenship with an active Department of War (DoW) Top Secret (TS) security clearance and current access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) (TS/SCI).
• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of related experience in project management, strategic planning, or executive support, preferably within the DoW (an advanced degree and experience is acceptable).
• Demonstrated experience as a proven leader and team builder with a mature, organized, and personable demeanor.
• Knowledgeable in DoW work environments, including understanding of organizational structure, administrative processes, and communication protocols.
• Conversant with current events and capabilities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Agentic systems, and Autonomy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing briefs, papers, and other materials for senior executive‑level consumption.

Desired Experience

• Experience working in or supporting a senior‑level office within the Department of War or the Intelligence Community.
• Strong understanding of DoW acquisition, budgeting, and requirements generation processes, including rapid acquisition pathways such as Middle Tier of Acquisition or transaction authority OTA agreements.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional teams across military services, agencies, and industry partners.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast‑paced, high‑stakes environment.

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable to access job openings or apply due to disability.

Redhorse Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.