Mission Innovation and Capability Integrator

MTSI is seeking a Mission Innovation and Capability Integrator , who will support senior government leaders within OUSW(R&E) Mission Capabilities by identifying, assessing, integrating, and accelerating promising technologies capable of addressing high-priority Department challenges.   This role sits at the intersection of technology, operations, experimentation, innovation, and acquisition. The successful candidate will engage with emerging technology companies, venture-backed firms, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), defense laboratories, warfare centers, traditional defense contractors, and operational stakeholders to identify capabilities with the potential to deliver mission advantage.   The ideal candidate is a technically curious, mission-focused leader who can quickly understand new technologies, assess operational relevance, connect ideas across domains, and help senior leaders make informed capability investment decisions.   Daily responsibilities include:
- Engaging with non-traditional defense companies, startups, venture capital-backed firms, and emerging technology providers.
- Identifying technologies relevant to Department mission priorities and future operational challenges.
- Supporting technology assessments, mission analyses, market research efforts, and capability evaluations.
- Connecting operational problems with innovative technical solutions.
- Coordinating across Joint Staff, Military Services, Combatant Commands, laboratories, warfare centers, industry partners, and academia.
- Supporting experimentation, prototyping, transition planning, and capability development activities.
- Preparing executive-level briefing materials, decision support products, and recommendations for senior government leadership.
- Representing Mission Capabilities leadership at technical exchanges, industry engagements, demonstrations, and innovation events.
- Identifying opportunities to accelerate transition of promising technologies from research to operational application.

How you will contribute to our National Security and Defense mission: In this role, you will help connect defense innovation with operational need. You will work directly with senior leaders, technology developers, operators, and industry partners to identify solutions that address some of the Department's most important challenges. Your work will influence capability development, experimentation priorities, technology investment decisions, and future mission concepts.   This position is located in the National Capital Region (NCR).   You’ll be a great fit for this role if:
- You are genuinely curious about emerging technologies.
- You enjoy meeting technical founders, engineers, scientists, and innovators.
- You can quickly understand complex technical concepts and explain their operational relevance.
- You thrive in environments where priorities evolve rapidly.
- You enjoy connecting people, ideas, technologies, and organizations.
- You are equally comfortable speaking with engineers, military operators, acquisition professionals, venture investors, and senior government leaders.
- You are motivated by mission impact more than organizational boundaries.
- You enjoy helping good ideas become real capabilities.

Responsibilities: Your essential job functions will include but may not be limited to:
- Identify, assess, and evaluate emerging technologies relevant to future military missions.
- Conduct technical, operational, and mission-focused assessments of novel capabilities.
- Engage with startups, small businesses, research organizations, prime contractors, and venture-backed companies.
- Support development of experimentation objectives and technology demonstration activities.
- Collaborate with operational and technical stakeholders to identify capability gaps and opportunities.
- Develop recommendations supporting technology investment and transition decisions.
- Support mission engineering, systems analysis, technology assessment, and capability integration activities.
- Analyze future operational concepts, threat challenges, and emerging technology trends.
- Assist with planning, coordination, and execution of technical reviews, workshops, and industry engagements.
- Develop executive briefings, technical assessments, white papers, and decision-support products.
- Support cross-functional efforts spanning acquisition, experimentation, technology development, and operational integration.
- Foster relationships across government, industry, academia, and innovation ecosystems.
  Qualifications Required: Minimum 10-15 years of experience with emphasis on one or more of the following:
- Advanced technology development.
- Defense innovation.
- Research and development.
- Experimentation and prototyping.
- Technology assessment.
- Mission engineering.
- Systems engineering.
- Operations analysis.
- Capability development.
- Defense acquisition.
- Joint military operations.
- Advanced warfare concepts.
- Emerging technology transition.
- Strategic technology planning.
Demonstrated experience:
- Evaluating technical capabilities and operational utility of emerging technologies.
- Working across organizational boundaries to solve complex problems.
- Developing recommendations for senior leaders.
- Building relationships with technical, operational, and industry stakeholders.
- Communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences.
  Education:
- Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or related technical disciplines requiring modeling, simulation, and analysis.
- Doctoral/Terminal degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or a related technical discipline requiring modeling, simulation, and analysis (preferred).

Even better if you have these desired skills/experiences:
- Technical Specialties:  Aerospace Systems; Guidance, Navigation & Control; Hypersonics; Assured PNT; Communications Systems; Autonomous Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Sensors, Quantum Capabilities; Space Systems; Electronic Warfare and Non-Kinetics; Cyber Capabilities; Counter-C5ISRT; Robotics

Desired Experience:  DARPA; Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO); Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO); Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL); Missile Defense Agency (MDA); NRO; NGA; ONR; Warfare Centers; Combatant Commands; Joint Staff; OSD analytical organizations
Clearance Requirements : An active Top Secret (TS) security clearance (with SCI and SAP/CAP eligibility) is required. The pay range for this position is $170,000/year to $195,000/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on established government contract ranges, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience, and other factors. MTSI also offers a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Base pay information is based on market location. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. This posting will be renewed periodically until the position is filled.
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