Senior Defense Technologist – Land Warfare

MTSI is seeking a Senior Defense Technologist for land warfare, you will help shape the Department’s understanding of advanced land systems and their impact on future warfighting architectures. You will bring together operational experience, technical acumen, and strategic insight to support the development, integration, and transition of next-generation land capabilities. This position is located in the National Capital Region (NCR).

You’ll be a great fit for this role if:

• You’re an Innovative Problem Solver: You approach challenges with creativity and aren’t afraid to disrupt the status quo to develop groundbreaking solutions.
• You’re Comfortable in Ambiguity: You excel in uncertain and fast-changing environments, turning complex problems into clear strategies with minimal direction.
• You Leverage Expertise Everywhere: You have a knack for identifying and engaging the right experts and resources, forging connections to solve tough technical and operational problems.
• You See the Big Picture: You’re able to identify opportunities to transform the art of the possible, considering how land warfare capabilities fit into future operational and technological landscapes.
• You’re Passionate and Persuasive: You bring energy, vision, and credibility to drive meaningful discussions with senior leaders, challenging traditional thinking with bold yet pragmatic ideas.

Responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide technical expertise and operational insights on land warfare systems and capabilities to support mission/campaign-level analysis, modeling, and capability assessments.

Your essential job functions will include but may not be limited to:

• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for platforms, systems, and capabilities within the land domain, advising on their integration into multi-domain warfare scenarios.
• Conduct detailed technical and operational assessments of emerging land warfare capabilities and their roles in joint campaigns.
• Integrate land warfare insights into campaign analyses, modeling and simulation, and experimentation.
• Evaluate technology performance, feasibility, operational benefit, and potential transition pathways.
• Identify and communicate land capability gaps, opportunities, and priorities to DoW stakeholders.
• Support development of study requirements, test objectives, modeling inputs, and analytical methodologies.
• Work with DoW stakeholders (Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Service Components) to advocate for investments in land warfare capabilities that demonstrate operational value in campaign scenarios.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across the Joint Force to advocate for the incorporation of advanced land warfare systems and architectures into military planning efforts.
• Provide expert input into the development and transition of novel land warfare technologies from R&D programs into operational force structures.
• Support evaluations of technology viability and readiness for integration into joint force operations.
• Engage with senior DoW leadership to provide land warfare insights that inform strategic and operational decisions.
• Coordinate and/or generat support documentation (e.g., scenario, background, order of battle).
• Navigate foreign disclosure, classification, and tech transition processes.

Qualifications Required

• Minimum 15 years of experience working with advanced land warfare technologies, systems, and platforms with emphasis on:
• Supporting development and implementation of advanced land warfare technologies and systems.
• Planning, developing, and executing R&D-oriented technical projects tied to operational missions.
• Conducting research and analyses that combine operational expertise with innovative technology approaches.
• Assessing military effectiveness, engineering viability, and operational integration of land systems.
• Working within DoW environments (e.g., Joint Staff, military services, or Combatant/Functional Commands) to advance capability development.
• Applying advanced techniques, theories, and practices in technology programs, ideally with transition to operational use.
• Executing technology transition efforts.
• Staff-level, Headquarters-level, Joint/Combatant Command experience (highly preferred).

Education

• Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Doctoral/Terminal degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or a related technical discipline (preferred).

Even Better If You Have These Desired Skills

• Demonstrated ability to connect tactical, operational, and strategic considerations into coherent recommendations.
• Strong quantitative reasoning and ability to collaborate with M&S and campaign analysis personnel.

Clearance Requirements

• An active Top Secret (TS) security clearance (with SCI and SAP/CAP eligibility) is required.

The pay range for this position is $190,000/year to $245,000/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.