Space Combat Power Project Leader

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The N181 Space Warfighting Integration Department brings the space enterprise to bear on the all-domain fight by integrating mission needs, technical capabilities, and sponsor priorities across the national security space enterprise. We deliver mission integration, mission engineering, system-of-systems analysis, architecture and resilience assessments, modeling and simulation, and operational analysis to help sponsors close kill chains, improve combat credibility, and field mission-relevant space capabilities. Our work spans space operations, command and control integration, space combat power, operational test and training, and future force design.

The work associated with this role primarily supports the Program Acquisition Executives (PAE) for Space Combat Power, PAE for Electronic Warfare and Cyber, including Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and involves other stakeholders including Space Systems Integration Office (SSIO), Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition (SAF/SQ), and PAE for Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications and Space Intelligence (BMC3I).

Roles & Responsibilities:

The department is seeking an experienced, mission-focused, and technically credible Project Leader to shape and execute a large, multi-sponsor Space Combat Power and Advanced Space Capabilities work program. This Project Leader will guide mission engineering, system-of-systems integration, modeling and simulation, rapid capability development, and operational analysis to evaluate combat-power effectiveness, close kill-chain gaps, and reduce technical, operational, and acquisition risk. The role also requires building trusted sponsor relationships through regular engagement, technical interchange, in-person collaboration, and proactive identification of emerging sponsor needs.

This work supports the development, assessment, integration, and operational employment of capabilities that enable the United States and its allies to contest and control the space domain, preserve freedom of action, and deliver combat power in, from, and to space.

The Project Leader will guide work across orbital warfare, electronic warfare, defensive cyber operations for space, rapid capability development, operational prototyping, and space-based missile defense integration. The selected candidate will lead a geographically dispersed multidisciplinary team, shape sponsor work, ensure technical quality, manage project execution, and develop MITRE's role as a trusted, independent technical integrator for combat-credible space capabilities.

The Project Leader will also be responsible for building and sustaining a high-performing, geographically dispersed team by mentoring task leaders, supporting staff growth and onboarding, enabling access to the tools and environments required for execution, providing performance feedback to supervisors, and fostering a strong culture of collaboration, accountability, speed, inclusion, belonging, and technical excellence.

The Project Leader will:

• Lead the technical direction, execution, staffing, financial management, sponsor engagement, and delivery of a large, multi-sponsor Space Combat Power work program.
• Shape and execute work across orbital warfare, electronic warfare, defensive cyber operations for space, rapid capability development, operational prototyping, and space-based missile defense integration.
• Partner with department and division leadership to align the work program with MITRE strategy, sponsor priorities, and mission outcomes.
• Lead mission engineering, system-of-systems integration, modeling and simulation, and operational analysis to evaluate combat-power effectiveness, close kill-chain gaps, and reduce technical, operational, and acquisition risk.
• Build trusted sponsor relationships through regular engagement, technical interchange, in-person collaboration, and proactive identification of emerging sponsor needs.
• Leverage expertise across MITRE, especially MTE, other centers, projects, and geographic sites to bring the right technical talent, capabilities, and laboratories to complex space warfighting problems.
• Build a high-performing project team; mentor task leaders; provide performance feedback to supervisors; and foster collaboration, accountability, speed, inclusion, and technical excellence.
• Staff leadership - evolve the team and grow staff through career training, mentoring, hiring, and onboarding; handle/process requests for badge, network, and lab access, visit requests, tool integration, etc.
• Culture development - foster and demonstrate a strong and positive culture built upon MITRE's behaviors and cultural attributes while maintaining a consistent sense of belonging for all.

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering (preferably aerospace engineering), physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related technical discipline; or 8 years and a Master of Science degree in engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related technical discipline; or a PhD with 5 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams, tasks, or projects in complex national security environments.
• Demonstrated technical depth in one or more relevant areas such as orbital warfare, electronic warfare, defensive cyber operations, space systems engineering, modeling and simulation, operational analysis, rapid prototyping, missile defense, fire control, engagement management, satellite design, or system-of-systems integration.
• Experience working with government sponsors and multidisciplinary teams to shape, lead, and deliver technical products that inform operational, acquisition, architecture, test, or fielding decisions.
• Knowledge of rapid capability development, agile acquisition, digital engineering, prototyping, test, and transition approaches for national security systems.
• Strong technical writing, briefing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to present complex technical topics to senior leaders and non-technical audiences.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI and ability to be cleared for SAP access.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance and ability to be cleared for SAP access. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.

This position is anchored in Colorado Springs, CO, Los Angeles, CA, or Albuquerque, NM and requires regular on-site presence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in engineering, physics, operations research, mathematics, or a related technical discipline with 12 years of related experience.
• Three or more years of task, project, or work-program leadership experience, preferably leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple sponsors, locations, or technical domains.
• Experience supporting space combat power, orbital warfare, space electronic warfare, defensive cyber operations for space, space superiority, missile defense, space-based interceptors, or rapid space capability development.
• Experience with mission engineering, system-of-systems engineering, modeling and simulation, operational analysis, digital engineering, architecture analysis, or test and evaluation for complex national security systems.
• Experience evaluating fire control, engagement management, command and control, common ground, interface design, or end-to-end kill-chain performance.
• Understanding of space systems and missions across DoD, the Intelligence Community, civil agencies, and commercial industry.
• Demonstrated strategic space system-of-systems thought leader.
• Experience in space interagency (USSPACOM, USSF, NRO, NGA, MDA, etc.) operations, capabilities, and C2.
• Experience shaping new work, developing sponsor relationships, and translating sponsor mission needs into executable technical work programs.
• Experience leading or contributing to prototype development, operational demonstrations, technology insertion, transition planning, or rapid fielding of classified capabilities.
• Active DoD TS/SCI clearance and cleared for Special Access Programs.

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

Top Secret

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

SAP, Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

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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