Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities, and a culture of innovation that embraces diversity, inclusion, flexibility, collaboration, and career growth. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE—and make a difference with us. Our nation’s ability to defend the homeland, deter aggression, and build a resilient Joint force rests on our capacity to identify, prioritize, and successfully field the optimal set of effective, suitable, and survivable systems. We must re-envision national security to keep pace with advanced adversaries, leveraging the entire spectrum of the Nation’s Innovation Base, while creating and leveraging a growing set of new options and authorities for accelerating Joint and whole-of-nation capabilities. That’s where MITRE’s Acquisition Studies & Analysis (ASA) Department comes in. We are a diverse group of defense acquisition experts, operations research / system analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and communication systems engineers– all with a united passion to solve problems for a safer world. We’re experienced professionals who advise senior leaders and decision-makers across the national security enterprise. Our evidence-based work garners visibility and provokes thought and action. We’re team players who build partnerships across government, industry, academia, and research centers. And above all - we bring objectivity, innovation, courage, and technical excellence to help our sponsors make the right decision. Roles & Responsibilities: MITRE’s ASA Department seeks a well-connected and recognized expert on defense acquisition and innovation. The ideal candidate will be a credible authority on defense acquisition, emerging technologies, and national security processes You will belong to a high-performing team that regularly initiates and implements projects in support of sponsors’ strategic initiatives, often before a sponsor can fully recognize or articulate that they are needed. The team may publish, speak at high visibility events, and advise senior government officials. Responsibilities include: + Effectively engage and motivate sponsors, stakeholders, and the larger enterprise on acquisition modernization and agility topics ranging from acquisition policy to technology assessments and mission needs. + Develop and propose innovative strategies, policies, and processes that improve defense acquisition outcomes, ranging from programs, portfolios, and enterprise-wide initiatives. + Contribute with impact as part of one or more integrated product teams to enable DoD to transition emerging technologies and prototypes across the Valley of Death into fielded operational capabilities. + Strategically communicate internally and externally on key issues related to defense acquisition. + Build and manage relationships between senior sponsors, MITRE, and other stakeholders (Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), think tanks, Industry, academia). + Increase collaboration and coordination on acquisition reform and improvement issues across policy, practice, and academic domains. Basic Qualifications: + Typically requires a minimum of 10 years experience with broad exposure and significant roles across the DoD’s acquisition environment, including the innovation ecosystem. + Track record of providing successful thought leadership in applying, teaching, or leading defense acquisition reform or modernization – prior experience as an acquisition professional, by itself, is not sufficient for this role. + Experience building coalitions and communities that span multiple organizations. + Strong critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills – comfortable working in dynamic settings where task objectives may evolve or need to be shaped, or creative solutions to task impediments must be identified. + Demonstrated ability to work in team settings, to include establishing formal or informal teams or alliances which coordinate across technical and organizational boundaries to achieve significant mission outcomes. + Strong interpersonal skills as well as effective verbal and written communication skills. + Working familiarity with all aspects of DoD Adaptative Acquisition Framework, in particular the software acquisition pathway, requirements, or resourcing processes – i.e., Defense Acquisition System (DAS), Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), and/or the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) processes. + Experience in one or more of the domain or functional areas adjacent to the key areas of modern acquisition reform, such as: + Software development, including agile software development methodologies, DevOps, and/or cloud-based capabilities + Cyber security or cyber operations + Conventional/nuclear command and control + Missile warning/defense + Joint or service logistics + Other Joint force application or support + DoD critical technology areas + Test & evaluation, systems engineering, cost estimation, or program protection of acquisition programs related to any of the above + The Defense industrial base and Supply Chain management. + Business systems + Willingness to visit Sponsor sites periodically for direct engagement and/or meetings. + Active DoD Secret clearance + This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence. Preferred Qualifications: + Ability to maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance with access to Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI). + Bachelor’s degree or higher in an Applied Science or Engineering. + Demonstrated ability to maintain and leverage a strong professional network to provide thought leadership across the acquisition enterprise. + Demonstrated ability leading critical acquisition modernization or reform efforts with visibility and trust at high levels of government and/or industry. This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s): Secret This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s): Secret Work Location Type: Hybrid MITRE is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 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