Associate Project Leader for Air Combat Command

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Department Summary:

MITRE's Cyber Defense – Installation to Edge department seeks an Associate Project Leader to lead the technical execution of a major portfolio supporting Air Combat Command's (ACC) digital transformation. The successful candidate will guide the design, integration, and operationalization of data-driven, AI-enabled, and cyber-resilient capabilities that directly enhance mission readiness, agility, and decision advantage for the Air Force's premier combat organization. 

In this role, the Associate Project Leader will serve as a technical focal point and team integrator for the project, working closely with ACC Headquarters to translate the Command's digital and data transformation goals into actionable technical objectives and mission-aligned outcomes. The position blends strategic foresight, technical leadership, and collaborative execution—ensuring that MITRE's work not only meets technical benchmarks but also delivers measurable operational and enterprise value. As a trusted Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) for the Air Force, MITRE brings objective, cross-domain expertise to accelerate capability transition. 

This position will lead a multi-disciplinary team advancing innovation across Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML), data, cyber defense, and digital modernization. The Associate Project Leader will oversee a portfolio of pilot projects and capability integrations spanning enterprise, mission, and tactical environments. These efforts will drive a unified approach to data and AI governance, ecosystem management, and digital capability transition, ensuring the Command can scale modernization efforts with consistency, interoperability, and security. 

The Associate Project Leader will shape the technical direction by decomposing high-level capability needs into operational, functional, and technical requirements as well as coordinate with MITRE's experts across MITRE Labs, leveraging corporate strengths in cybersecurity, analytics, Zero Trust architectures, and systems engineering to deliver integrated, technically rigorous, and operationally meaningful solutions. 

Equally critical, this position will foster close collaboration with ACC's Innovation Cell, Data and AI governance leads, and Headquarters directorates, ensuring that MITRE's work program remains synchronized with ongoing transformation initiatives. The Associate Project Leader will drive technical execution aligned to mission priorities, build cross-organizational momentum for digital and AI modernization, and enable data-centric operations that enhance readiness and warfighter effectiveness. 

Beyond execution, the Associate Project Leader will play a vital role in shaping the future direction of the work program—identifying new opportunities, driving innovation partnerships, and strengthening integration across Department of War (DoW), Department of the Air Force (DAF), Major Command (MAJCOM) Chief Technology Offices (CTO), and the broader innovation ecosystem. Success in this role will be measured by the ability to transform strategic intent into operational impact—advancing Air Combat Command's readiness through data, AI, and resilient cyber capabilities. 

This position requires regular, on-site collaboration in Hampton Roads, VA, ensuring continual engagement with ACC leadership, mission partners, and technical teams to maintain shared situational awareness, alignment, and impact. 

Roles & Responsibilities:

As the Associate Project Leader, the successful candidate will partner with the project leader to: 

Mature and Shape the Work Program for Mission Impact 

• Refine and shape the technical work program in alignment with ACC's digital transformation priorities and MITRE's departmental strategy—ensuring outcomes directly advance the sponsor's vision of becoming a fully data-driven, AI-enabled organization. 
• Translate ACC's mission objectives into actionable technical plans, decomposing capability needs into operational, functional, and technical requirements that directly enhance mission readiness and decision advantage. 
• Establish and track Mission Value Chains (MVCs) with Target, Threshold, and Objective (TTO) measures that connect technical outcomes to measurable operational and enterprise impacts. 
• Leverage the full depth of MITRE's technical capabilities, drawing on expertise across MITRE Labs in data engineering, cybersecurity, AI/ML, Zero Trust, and agile acquisition to integrate cross-domain innovation into ACC's transformation initiatives. 
• Build and sustain collaborations with external partners—including FFRDC, DoD innovation organizations, academia, and non-traditional vendors—to accelerate technology transition and maximize mission impact. 
• Shape and grow the work program by identifying new opportunities that strengthen ACC's governance, data management, and AI adoption frameworks in support of broader Air Force digital modernization goals. 

Lead and Engage 

• Work side-by-side with ACC Headquarters and mission partners to develop trusted, collaborative relationships built on technical credibility, transparency, and impact. 
• Engage with a multi-disciplinary team integrating cyber engineers and systems architects to deliver cohesive, high-value technical outcomes across data, AI, and digital modernization domains. 
• Foster innovation and cross-project collaboration across MITRE departments, ensuring lessons learned, leading practices, and emerging research are continuously integrated into sponsor work. 
• Act as the technical integrator and strategic translator, ensuring MITRE's work aligns with ACC's mission priorities, governance direction, and operational tempo. 
• Mentor and develop staff, promoting a culture of curiosity, adaptability, and excellence that reflects MITRE's values of technical rigor and mission-driven innovation. 
• Represent MITRE's technical posture in engagements with ACC leadership, articulating how MITRE's work advances digital transformation outcomes, risk reduction, and readiness. 

Execute and Deliver Mission Impact 

• Lead the delivery of high-quality, data-driven technical products and recommendations that inform and enhance ACC's digital transformation, data governance, and AI capability integration. 
• Drive the design, integration, and operationalization of data and AI solutions that deliver measurable improvements in mission efficiency, decision advantage, and cyber resilience. 
• Identify and elevate project risks or dependencies early, developing mitigation strategies and coordinating with leadership to ensure technical and mission continuity. 
• Integrate research-to-operations (R2O) transition pathways, connecting MITRE Innovation Program (MIP) projects, Firefly prototypes, and MITRE Labs research to operational pilot efforts within ACC. 
• Ensure MITRE's technical activities are informed by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, DoD Zero Trust principles, and threat-informed defense strategies to strengthen the Command's resilience posture. 
• Maintain accurate staffing plans and align team expertise with sponsor priorities, ensuring resources are optimized for mission impact. 
• Collaborate with Department leadership to forecast workforce and skillset needs, support the next year's work program planning, and prepare formal staffing requests that sustain mission continuity and capability growth. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering, cybersecurity, or a related field; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience in complex technical or mission environments. 
• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. 
• Deep understanding of cyber security and defense and its implementation across enterprise and tactical environments, including: 
• Cyber threat analysis and analytics 
• Threat-informed defense strategies and operations 
• Deception techniques and adversary emulation 
• Cyber risk assessment and mitigation 
• Application of NIST Cybersecurity Frameworks and associated DoD guidance 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable sponsor communications. 
• Demonstrated track record of achieving significant technical or mission outcomes, whether through project leadership, program execution, or sponsor collaboration. 
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI clearance. 
• Knowledge of machine learning, AI analytics, and data science methodologies for operational or cyber defense applications. 
• Expertise with MITRE's cyber tools and frameworks, including ATT&CK, CALDERA, D3FEND, CORA, and related knowledge bases. 
• Experience applying Agile development and engineering processes to deliver iterative, testable outcomes in complex mission environments. 
• Experience with MITRE's Project Leader processes, business systems, and internal work program management practices, including cross-sponsor collaboration and outcome measurement. 

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:

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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