Technical/Programmatic SETA
Arlington, VA
Job Description:
Will provide Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, VA, an organization dedicated for over sixty years to making investments in transformational technologies for national security.
The successful candidate will support a DARPA program manager in the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) by participating in or leading all activities in project management, technical and programmatic risk analysis, program-funded test coordination, and coordination with members of the Department of Defense for transition. The candidate will also be responsible for coordinating meetings, assessing performer technical progress, projecting performer outcomes, and ensuring that project management best practices are followed by performers, independent verification and validation (IV&V) entities funded by DARPA, and within DARPA itself.
The ideal candidate should possess technical research, development, and engineering experience across a breadth of applied technical projects to support new program development and ancillary analysis support for ongoing program management. Support will transition to program management and transition over the program lifecycle. Specific expertise areas of interest are: quantum optics, AMO (atomic, molecular, optical) physics, microwave superconducting qubits and circuits, ultrafast optics, integrated photonics. A background in experimental physics and an understanding of optics are required. Prior experience with Department of Defense applications, testing, experimentation, and transition is highly desired. Exemplary candidates will also have demonstrated an ability to learn new subjects and gain rapid insights into current and next-generation research topics, preferably with hands-on leadership of research programs at the performer level in multidisciplinary fields.
Responsibilities:
- Analysis of emerging science and technology R&D opportunities through literature review; outreach to the research community; summarizing, analyzing, and visualizing data in spreadsheet and graphical forms
- Generating briefing materials and agency documents required for new program approval
- Program management at all stages over the program lifecycle including BAA drafting; feedback on proposals; interactions with proposers and performers; meeting organization and participation; transition partner and industry partner engagement
- Lead periodic performer assessments to analyze findings, assess technical and schedule risks; develop management strategies; communicate findings to program manager
- Technical evaluations and guidance on reports, briefings, and other performer communications
- Presentation and report preparation
- Program administration, including development of technical analyses, identification of technology gaps, technical risk management, project cost estimation, technology transfer efforts, as well as supporting technical reviews
- Attending and organizing program reviews/site visits/field tests
Requirements:
- Ph.D. Physics (can be Applied Physics or other variants).
- Experience in experimental physics and an understanding of optics.
- Experience in one ore more of the following technologies: quantum optics, physical chemistry, high-energy/particle physics, and AMO (atomic, molecular, optical) physics
- The level of effort will be 100%, and on-site preferred.
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain TS/SCI DoD security clearance is required.
Desired Capabilities and Characteristics:
- Outstanding attention to detail
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to quickly learn unfamiliar areas needed to broadly support the PM’s portfolio spanning multiple domains of optics and electronics
- Self-starter who is willing to both take the lead and provide support in a team role in a complex, fast-paced, cross-disciplinary work environment
- Strong organization skills with the ability to multi-task and respond to quick turn-around requests
- Flexible and readily adaptable to change
- Demonstrated collaboration skills in a team atmosphere
- Passion for science and technology
- Nice to have: Skills in first-principles analysis and/or theoretical physics
Some remote work may be possible.
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