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The National Space Program (NSP) seeks an experienced Project Leader (PL) to take charge of the National Reconnaissance Office’s Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate (NRO/AS&T) project.  AS&T’s NRO mission is technology and tradecraft for intelligence dominance.  AS&T develops technology to enable a responsive, problem-centric multi-INT architecture by investing in Advanced Technologies, Applied Technologies, and capability demonstration Pathfinders.  AS&T invents the NRO’s future by transforming what exists and discovering what does not. 
 

Dealing directly with Govt seniors across AS&T and our sponsors across MITRE’s National Security Sector, the AS&T PL is crucial to shaping and executing MITRE’s AS&T work program. The AS&T PL is accountable for overall direction, technical quality, resource planning, internal and external coordination, execution, development, and outcomes of MITRE’s AS&T work. The AS&T PL achieves project objectives as defined by the sponsor and NSP portfolio outcomes and milestones, as well as by project scope, quality, schedule, and cost. The AS&T PL is responsible for staffing the project, collaborating with the NSP Portfolio team and P934 Department Head, i.e., the NSP Shared Leadership Team, and Technical Center leadership across the company, to ensure that the right talent is supporting the AS&T project. The NSP Shared Leadership Team is responsible for appropriately elevating issues that could affect the success of the project or its broader environment. 
 

Note that the AS&T PL position is tied to the sponsor’s need for a Small Satellite Systems Engineer to support AS&T’s Advanced Systems Office (ASO).  ASO serves as the AS&T focal point for developing and delivering new ground and space capabilities and is responsible for managing the AS&T pathfinder, demonstration, ground technology development, and international R&D portfolios.    In addition to performing required PL duties, the selected candidate will support ASO in concept development, system design and implementation, launch, and demonstration of next generation satellite sensor technology. The selected candidate will be expected to lead development of a technology roadmap for future satellite demonstration programs which support long-term AS&T and NRO capability goals. These goals will span sensor, communications, and processing domains and will demonstrate both new technologies and new operational concepts. Qualified candidates should have strong systems engineering skills and experience with sensor designs and satellite operations.  Experience with NRO systems is a plus, but not required.  Also note that the position is full-time on-site with the sponsor in their Chantilly VA government facility and requires a Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph. 
 

Key Responsibilities:  

Works with and provides support as necessary to the NSP Shared Leadership Team to identify AS&T trends and thrusts and help shape the NSP portfolio strategy. The AS&T PL supports the portfolio’s Sponsor Value Analysis and sponsor strategy development activities. Developing detailed knowledge and insight of the sponsor’s organization, mission, strategic direction and challenges is essential for these activities. Develops and maintains an executable AS&T project plan, refining AS&T MITRE work to produce desired and achievable outcomes for the sponsor, while identifying staffing skills requirements, schedule milestones, and risk areas Works with the NSP Shared Leadership Team to identify portfolio and project‐specific work shaping objectives, deliverables, and outcomes Ensures that all project staff are aware of the context for the AS&T project objectives and expectations so that they understand the connections to their tasks Works with the NSP Shared Leadership Team to align and support cross‐customer initiatives with project resources as appropriate Executes the AS&T project plan within allocation Develops a project plan for AS&T execution  Adapts AS&T tasks to meet important, short‐fuse demands, coordinating with the NSP Shared Leadership Team as quickly as possible Forecasts and monitors all AS&T project expenditures by month and across budget categories; adapts to changes, re‐plans, and reports to the sponsor and NSP Shared Leadership Team Identifies and manages project risks (e.g., delivery, funding, etc.); keeps the sponsor and NSP Shared Leadership Team informed Directs AS&T project activities and executes AS&T project plans effectively to deliver products and achieve project outcomes Oversees and guides activities of individual AS&T project MITRE contributors Works closely with the sponsor to ensure most effective use of MITRE FFRDC resources, advising the sponsor when MITRE FFRDC-appropriate work is approaching completion, developing transition plans (if appropriate) of completed MITRE FFRDC-appropriate work to SETA, keeping the sponsor informed on STE and budget delivery, and working with the sponsor on applying MITRE resources against their top challenges, to include switching out MITRE skillsets as necessary Ensures quality, timely, on schedule, and within budget delivery of AS&T MITRE products Integrates appropriate level of independent peer reviews of work program and products Shares and archives deliverables appropriately 
 

Accountabilities:   

The AS&T PL is accountable for all aspects of AS&T project performance, including staff selection, technical quality, programmatic support, fiscal accountability, and budgetary development/execution.  Working with the N930 Technical Director and N934 Department Head to resolve conflicts, the PL is accountable for staffing their project(s) with the right resources from across MITRE. The AS&T PL is accountable for selecting the appropriate staff to execute the AS&T work program.   The AS&T PL supports the NSP Shared Leadership Team in the analysis and development of the sponsor strategy, providing technical knowledge and insight of the sponsor’s organization, mission, strategic direction and challenges. The AS&T PL is accountable as the day‐to‐day interface to the sponsor, developing trusted partner relationships with key sponsor seniors across AS&T and informing the NSP Shared Leadership Team of significant developments. The AS&T PL is accountable for delivering regular, constructive feedback and developmental support via the MITRE Direct Supervisor to the MITRE staff that support the project. 

Basic Qualifications:

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph; Due to our urgent need, candidates without an existing TS/SCI clearance with CI or FS polygraph will not be considered for this openingTypically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.Proven experience in Program ManagementProven experience providing acquisition support to the IC to achieve desired outcomesExperience developing repeatable process, artifacts (e.g., requirements documents (SOW, SOO, PWS), requests for proposals, source selection plans, acquisition plans, risk management plans, cost estimates, and other documents as necessary)Ability to work independently and as part of a teamA high degree of professionalism and integrityExcellent written and verbal communication skillsThis position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's Degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or technical equivalent or similar field and 12 years of experience Leadership of a team that developed or acquired technologies and/or methods to support satellite operations Demonstrated experience and capability to advise on all aspects of the federal acquisition life cycle to implement and adopt innovative acquisition solutions.Experience participating and assisting in source selection, recommending evaluation factors, proposal evaluation process, and analyzing offer proposals.Experience in developing Program Management protocols

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Work Location Type:

Onsite

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