Technology Transition & Transfer (T3) Program Manager

National Reconnaissance Office; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Technology Transition & Transfer (T3) Program Manager within the Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate. The role involves identifying capability needs and managing contracts, including potential COTR duties across FAR and non-FAR acquisitions.

The ideal candidate will have a science or engineering degree, demonstrated leadership, and the ability to build partnerships with government, industry, and academia, plus

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline.
• Ability to build partnerships across an organization.
• Ability to lead change and innovation within an organization.
• Demonstrated leadership and technical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel domestically.

Responsibilities

• Engage across the organization and with partners to identify capability needs.
• Oversee or participate in contract acquisitions and may serve as a COTR for acquisitions.
• Lead one or more programs with multiple research projects in areas such as Autonomy, Data Transport, Remote Sensing, etc.
• Shape how NRO plans for future technology, research, and development.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Partnership building

Change management

Willing to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or engineering

Advanced degree

Job description

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America's advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

The Advanced Systems and Technology (AS&T) Directorate is responsible for discovering, researching, developing, and transitioning revolutionary and innovative technologies to the rest of organization. We have an exciting opportunity for a high performing individual to serve as the Technology Transition & Transfer (T3) Program Manager. Tech Transfer plays a critical role in discovering, on-boarding, and transitioning technology from non-traditional partners across industry, academia, and other government agencies. This position supports NRO's Federal Laboratory, the Space Reconnaissance Lab (SRL).

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Non-Supervisor, Technology Transition and Transfer Dept PM, GGS 12-13, occupational series 0801. More information on the occupational series can be viewed on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

This is a full-time position that is open from 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-19.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoW 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position MAY qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

As a T3 Program Manager (PM), you will engage across the organization, with other government agencies, national laboratories, industry, and academia to identify capability needs and partnership opportunities. As PM, you will have the opportunity to oversee or participate in contract acquisitions, both FAR and non-FAR based, and may serve as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for acquisition and research and development projects to advance current and future intelligence needs.

The successful candidate will be responsible for one or more programs that comprise multiple research projects. Examples of research areas in include: Autonomy, Data Transport, Remote Sensing, Resiliency & Security, and Foundation Technology. The candidate should have excellent leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, and be willing to engage organizations throughout the Government, academia, and industry. You will be involved in shaping how NRO plans for future technology, research, and development.

What You Will Need

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline
• Documented ability to build partnerships across an organization
• Documented ability to lead change and innovation within an organization
• Demonstrated leadership and technical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically.

DESIRED:

• Advanced degree in a science or engineering discipline or a related field
• Systems Engineering experience and education/training
• Experience as a program manager or contracting officer's technical representative
• Experience working with academia for research and development
• Experience working with Basic and Fundamental Research
• Experience building partnerships within the Intelligence Community
• Familiarity with In-Q-Tel
• Familiarity with FAR and non-FAR based acquisitions
• Working knowledge of NRO mission areas

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, "Merit Hiring Plan," dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see "Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume" and visit the Resume Help Center.

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

CHANTILLY, VA

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security's (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit DCIPS STEM Compensation.

GG-12: $117,753 - $153,082

GG-13: $132,751 - $172,578

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management's discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans' Preference

DoW Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoW Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [e-mail].

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

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