Senior Principal Project Leader - National Space Program - Communications Directorate

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MITRE's National Space Program brings together leading technical talent and deep mission expertise to help shape the future of space operations. We partner with organizations across the space enterprise to design, deliver, and advance next-generation capabilities that strengthen national security and support critical civil and defense missions. Through systems engineering, advanced analytics, and mission-focused research, our teams solve complex challenges, reduce risk, and accelerate innovation across the full space life cycle.

Joining the National Space Program means contributing to work of national and global importance. Our people help strengthen the digital and physical foundations that enable resilient, effective, and trusted space operations. Together, we are advancing mission assurance and empowering operators with the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in an increasingly dynamic space environment.

Roles & Responsibilities:

MITRE is seeking a technically exceptional Senior Principal Project Leader to support the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Communications Systems Directorate (COMM). COMM provides the end-to-end, secure information technology and transport services that serve as the central nervous system for the agency's global intelligence operations. A leader supporting COMM execution will oversee the architectural strategy, delivery, and sustainment of one of the world's largest and most robust global enterprise networks. This includes driving the modernization of the enterprise IT portfolio, integrating cutting-edge terrestrial and orbital communications, and ensuring continuous connectivity across all NRO operations centers and ground stations. The successful candidate will guide enterprise-wide technical baselines to guarantee seamless, high-speed data transport and network resilience throughout the lifecycle of critical space and ground platforms.

In addition to foundational IT governance, the candidate will play a critical role in supporting real-time NRO mission execution and operational enterprise management. This requires directing cross-functional operational teams to maintain comprehensive situational awareness, expedite incident response, and ensure 24/7/365 mission assurance. The leader will oversee rigorous maintenance de-confliction processes, manage critical network approvals, and establish resilient operational frameworks that guarantee the absolute availability of COMM systems, services, and capabilities under all conditions.

Crucially, this leadership position requires seamless integration and coordination across the broader Intelligence Community (IC), the Department of Defense (DoD), and external U.S. Government agencies. The candidate will act as a central conduit for resolving complex information exchange issues between the NRO's IT Service Ecosystem and the interconnected architectures of joint mission partners. By aligning network infrastructure strategies with IC-wide security concepts and advancing robust, scalable transport solutions, the leader will ensure that the NRO's communications architecture remains a secure, agile, and unparalleled foundation for America's strategic intelligence advantage.

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Provide strategic and technical leadership as a trusted advisor to the sponsor and help shape the full scope of work for the System Engineering Team
• Build and sustain strong relationships with NSP senior leadership, division leadership, branch chiefs, and government stakeholders across the mission space
• Define and execute technical objectives based on sponsor priorities and mission outcomes, with an emphasis on areas where MITRE can deliver the greatest value through its technical depth and cross-cutting capabilities
• Translate overall project strategy into clear, actionable outcomes, deliverables, and technical products
• Identify and integrate relevant research and innovation efforts from across MITRE, including internal innovation programs, to strengthen project impact and advance sponsor objectives
• Ensure the technical quality of products and recommendations by establishing clear team expectations aligned with division quality practices, conducting in-progress reviews, incorporating peer review, implementing effective knowledge management, and participating in regular program execution reviews
• Partner with MITRE staff resourcing organizations to develop and execute a mission-focused staffing strategy for the project
• Collaborate across MITRE and with sponsors to identify, assess, and inform operational trade space decisions for the NSP mission
• Lead project administration activities, including financial tracking, project documentation, meeting coordination, status reporting, facility management, task tracking, and contributor expectation setting
• Oversee staff management activities, including onboarding and access coordination for required systems, networks, collaboration environments, and classified facilities.
• Collaborate across the NSP work program with other PLs to ensure cohesive, well-aligned delivery

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 10 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 7 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Degree in cybersecurity, network engineering, system engineering, physics, applied mathematics, aerospace, software development for engineering/physical systems, mechanical engineering, or related discipline and work experience with a strong technical background.
• Background or experience with the National Reconnaissance Office, it's strategy, missions, and priorities.
• Understanding of space-related physics and engineering concepts, for example, orbital mechanics, satellite propagation, space-based ISR, satellite communications, space domain awareness, etc.
• Knowledge of enterprise data architectures.
• Knowledge of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) and associated tools, techniques, and processes
• Ability to proactively formulate key analytical questions to drive modeling, simulation, experimentation, and prototyping.
• Proficiency in DoD and IC space sponsors and their role in the development, acquisition, and operational lifecycle and the ability to work across to achieve higher level strategic objectives.
• Experience with understanding & presenting technical studies to senior decision-makers to drive action and outcomes.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI w/Poly U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 5 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD with research experience in one or more of the degrees referenced above
• Experience with cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) - to include AI strategy and engineering
• Knowledge of intelligence operations, the intelligence lifecycle, and intelligence systems
• Experience developing or applying systems architecture frameworks, architecture views, interface models, operational models, or enterprise architecture products
• Experience advising the federal government on acquisition lifecycle activities (emphasizing software acquisitions), including SOW/SOO development, market research, acquisition planning, technical evaluations, source selection support, or adoption of innovative acquisition approaches
• Experience with digital engineering, mission engineering, enterprise architecture, software-intensive systems, cloud-based systems, data platforms, cybersecurity, or command-and-control systems

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

Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

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/Polygraph

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$205,500 - $257,000 - $308,500 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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