Job Information
The MITRE Corporation Surface Transportation Division Chief Engineer in McLean, Virginia
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Department Summary:
The Surface Transportation Division (P270) is actively seeking a Division Chief Engineer to deliver transformative outcomes for Department of Transportation (DOT) sponsors, State Transportation Agencies, and other stakeholders across the surface transportation sector.
Our division is at the forefront of redefining the future of surface transportation by developing and implementing technical strategies, capabilities, and modernization plans. We emphasize the application of systems engineering, digital transformation, software development, and data analytics to advance the development, integration, and resilience of transportation infrastructure and technologies.
This role directly impacts the public by enhancing the safety, security, and efficiency of the movement of people and goods across the nation.
Roles & Responsibilities:
The P270 Chief Engineer will ensure the technical excellence of our work program and lead the continuous advancement of technical capabilities, experimentation, and exploration within the Division’s mission areas.
The Chief Engineer will cultivate strong relationships with senior leaders within our organization, as well as with senior and executive leaders within the Department of Transportation, State Transportation Agencies, and other transportation entities.
Technical Impact and Quality
Collaborate with Division leadership to transform our work program by aligning efforts with current sponsor priorities, anticipating future needs, and applying innovative thinking to maximize impact.
Ensure the quality of our staff, infrastructure, and products, showcasing MITRE’s technical expertise in meeting mission needs.
Leverage MITRE’s technical capabilities, labs, data, and resources to fulfill our cross-government commitments to sponsors.
Facilitate knowledge sharing and implement best practices across projects, Division work programs, transportation sponsors, and other FFRDCs to enhance impact and achieve key sponsor outcomes
Strategic Planning
Lead and drive the division’s technical strategy, guiding workforce shaping, investments, initiatives, and capabilities within laboratories.
Develop strategies to enhance the Division’s technical fields or their utilization within MITRE, including research, internal and external initiatives, and partnerships.
Partner with Division leaders to establish and manage the sponsor strategy for current and future mission work areas.
Build trusted advisor relationships with sponsors and stakeholders, advising on major initiatives, policies, challenges, and priorities.
Staff Development
Mentor, train, and develop staff within the organizational scope.
Contribute to staff development, talent assessment, and planning, including senior staff across the division.
Encourage and support staff in external technical activities (publishing, conference attendance, professional society participation).
Develop initiatives in partnership with others to cultivate the organization’s culture.
Partnerships and Initiatives
Coordinate technical outreach, partnerships, and engagements with industry, academia, and other stakeholders to integrate best practices and innovative approaches into the Division’s work.
Strengthen and build partnerships across MITRE to ensure alignment and synergy across technical initiatives and investments.
Initiate and influence internal research and development investments to address challenges within our mission focus.
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.
Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience leading teams and projects, including experience meeting cost, schedule, and performance requirements.
Demonstrated effective collaboration and clear written and verbal communication skills to support individual, team, and customer-related interaction.
Proven experience engaging senior sponsors with successful impacts and outcomes and establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships.
Demonstrated success in developing and delivering high-quality technical products under government-funded projects that result in accomplishment of Sponsor outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to tackle problems and define solutions with an enterprise perspective.
This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with the surface transportation sector generally, and the Department of Transportation specifically.
Understanding of and experience with the DOT’s procurement processes, other government agencies acquisition methodologies, and modernized approaches to acquisition.
Research project leadership experience.
Proven ability to lead, nurture, and support technical talent.
Technical background in one or more of the following:
Digital Transformation, Information Technology and Information Systems, Computer Science, or related discipline.
Civil Engineering, Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Modernized Software Development, or Acquisition.
Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Management, and Communications Technologies.
Cybersecurity.
This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
None
This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
None
Work Location Type:
Onsite
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