Defense Security Cooperation Agency Project Leader

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The Joint Digital Solutions Department (N225) seeks to enable DoD technology & information superiority across multiple domains including Command, Control, Communications and Spectrum.

We are seeking an experienced Project Leader with demonstrated expertise in architecting and implementing digital solutions to join our team as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Project Leader. DSCA promotes specific U.S. foreign policy and national security interests; builds military-to-military relationships through training and exercises and promotes interoperability of U.S. and partner nations; and develops allied and partner nation military and security capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations. Through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, DSCA advances U.S. defense and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign partners to encourage and enable allies and partners to respond to shared challenges.

The MITRE work program for DSCA is focused on the modernization of IT systems to accelerate FMS and Foreign Defense Sales reform in alignment with Presidential Executive Orders and DoD mandates. By applying the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) and DoDI 5000 principles, MITRE is reshaping software development and related processes, acquisition, IT governance, and cost/budgeting to streamline delivery of secure, mission-critical capabilities. The team is developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for FMS Case Development using iterative, human-centered design and an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) to unify data across modernized and legacy systems. A successful 2024 MITRE Security Automation Framework (SAF) pilot has resulted in continued operationalism of the capability within DSCA's AWS GovCloud (IL5) in 2025.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain relationships with our DSCA Sponsors
• Develop a thorough understanding of the Sponsor's mission, environment, and critical challenges
• Provide strong thought/technical leadership to shape the work program and ensure MITRE is addressing the sponsor's most challenging and critical mission challenges in coordination with the Department Manager and aligned with Department, Division and Center Priorities
• Work closely with the Sponsor and Department Manager to define impactful mission outcomes, influence stakeholder decisions, provide actionable recommendations, and deliver data driven technical products and prototypes
• Provide overall direction and oversite of technical efforts and ensure quality of data-driven technical products and/or solutions with actionable recommendations
• Seek and identify strong technical expertise from within the Department and across MITRE to build and maintain a high-performing project team
• Coordinate staffing and hiring with Department Manager
• Track technical delivery and finances, including project funding status and appropriate action as necessary to correct shortfalls or overruns
• Contribute to the technical work program in one or more areas
• Maintain a considerable presence at the Sponsor Site, i.e., Crystal City

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Two or more years of project leader experience
• Experience leading a mid-size multi-disciplined project team
• Proven track record for building and maintaining trusted sponsor relationships and operating effectively at various levels including with Senior Executives
• Demonstrated ability to execute sponsor work shaping aligned with organizational goals and develop objective solutions and recommendations to address critical sponsor challenges
• Proven team builder with ability to work across Program Division and MITRE Labs bringing required staffing resources to bear
• Strong interpersonal skills including effective verbal and written communication skills
• Significant demonstrated competency in multiple technical fields that are critical to program success (e.g., software engineering; cloud computing; API design and development, data quality, visualization and governance; agile software development; Adaptive Acquisition Frameworks DevSecOps; and IT Governance)
• Solid systems engineering skills
• DoD Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance
• This position requires a 50% hybrid on-site and willingness to travel to sponsor sites (Crystal City) as required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of project leader experience
• Experience leading a large multi-disciplined project team
• Strategic thinker
• Domain knowledge in Foreign Military Sales (FMS)

• Active TS/SCI Clearance

• Master's degree in computer science or similar program and 10 years of related technical experience or equivalent combination of related education and work experience

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):
Top Secret/SCI

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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