Senior Defense Technologist – Special Activities
About this role
Modern Technology Solutions Incorporated (MTSI) is seeking a Senior Defense Technologist. You will shape the future of special operations and advanced capabilities across complex campaigns. This critical role supports efforts to evaluate military effectiveness, increase investment in transformational technologies, and facilitate the transition of innovative solutions into operational use. Your work will drive results aligned with national security priorities. This position is located in the National Capital Region (NCR).
You’ll be a great fit for this role if:
- You are a strategic thinker who thrives on solving complex problems that have far-reaching impacts across defense campaigns.
- You are a collaborative leader who excels at building partnerships and influencing high-level decision-makers across the DoW enterprise.
- You possess a technical curiosity and enjoy combining operational expertise with innovative research to push the boundaries of what's possible.
- You're a results-oriented innovator who can adapt rapidly to shifting priorities while maintaining focus on delivering mission-critical outcomes.
- You have a passion for national security and want your work to directly contribute to advancing military capabilities and protecting the nation.
Responsibilities:
Your essential job functions will include but may not be limited to:
- Strategic Program Development: Lead planning and development for technical projects with high strategic importance. Rely on your expertise to tackle unique problems, address campaign objectives, and influence major DoW programs.
- Broader Campaign Assessments: Integrate advanced warfare technologies into studies evaluating operational effectiveness. Create solutions designed to deliver impact across coordinated joint and interagency campaign plans.
- Technology Transition: Assess engineering feasibility for novel systems and utilize your experience in program transitions to ensure readiness for operational fielding.
- Multi-Domain Collaboration: Work alongside Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, and other DoW organizations to advance capability development and shape investment strategies.
- R&D Leadership: Conceive and execute research studies combining operational expertise with innovative technology approaches, ensuring solutions meet the demands of dynamic operating environments and future challenges.
- Trusted Partnership: Build collaborative relationships across defense stakeholders to ensure goals are aligned, timelines are realistic, and the resulting capabilities provide measurable impact.
- Effective Communication: Generate support documentation (e.g., scenario, background, order of battle).
Qualifications Required:
15 years of experience working with advanced operations warfare technologies and special compartmented activities within the DoW with emphasis on:
- Conducting campaign-level assessments to evaluate military effectiveness and develop engineering approaches.
- Supporting technical efforts from concept development through operational deployment for high-priority DoW capabilities.
- Collaborating with Joint Staff, Combatant/Functional Commands, and other stakeholders across the defense enterprise.
Education:
- Required: Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Desired: Doctoral/Terminal degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Even better if you have these desired skills:
- Demonstrated knowledge of program transition efforts and familiarity with transitioning technologies into joint force structures.
- Background in working with Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, and/or military services to integrate capabilities into campaign planning.
- Joint/Combatant Command staff experience (highly preferred).
Clearance Requirements:
- An active Top Secret (TS) security clearance (with SCI and SAP/CAP eligibility) is required.
The pay range for this position is $180,000/year to $210,000/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.
#LI-AC1
#LI-Onsite
Company at a glance
Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and technology solutions company delivering first-choice capabilities to solve problems of global importance in the critical mission areas of missile defense, cyber security, intelligence, unmanned/autonomous systems, aviation, space, and homeland security.
The MTSI mission is to make important and lasting contributions to the nation's defense and security by providing leadership and best- value solutions to solve America's most technically challenging strategic problems. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.
For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com.
For current MTSI job openings, please visit www.mtsi-va.com/careers.
Founded1993
Team Size1,001-5,000 employees
WorkspaceOn-site
IndustrySpace Research and Technology
Location
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Websitemtsi-va.com
LinkedInLinkedIn
Top Benefits
- Medical
- Financial
Tired of cold applications?
Sign up with Clera and we'll reach out the moment a role actually fits you — no more spraying applications into the void.
Know someone who'd be great for this?