Principal Cyber/AI Research Portfolio Lead

Date Posted:

2025-06-06

Country:

United States of America

Location:

MD720: 9861 Broken Land Pkwy Columbia 9861 Broken Land Parkway Suite 400, Columbia, MD, 21046 USA

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance​

Security Clearance:

DoD Clearance: Top Secret

For over 70 years, RTX BBN Technologies (BBN) has been solving challenging problems through research, exploration, development, and prototyping. BBN’s Network & Cyber Technologies (NCT) team leverages computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, and physics to tackle customer challenges in electromagnetic warfare (EW), communications, cybersecurity, cyberspace operations, networking, and artificial intelligence (AI).

BBN is looking for a forward-thinking candidate to drive innovation at the convergence of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, with applications to future non-kinetic operations. You are the ideal candidate if you are a recognized thought leader with strong quantitative analytic skills; have a deep technical background in cyberspace operations, cyberspace research, and AI; are a strong writer, communicator, and strategic thinker; can identify and forge connections between stakeholder opportunities, your research passions, and our technical teams’ current capabilities; can attract and develop top-notch talent to round out the skillsets required to push your portfolio forward; and desire an opportunity to pursue external funding from government research agencies (e.g., ARPA-H, DARPA, IARPA, DoD Service Labs, IC research organizations) to help further U.S. National Security Objectives and the betterment of society.

What you will do:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Create vision and then advance a research portfolio for BBN having measurable impact on business
• Engage and actively participate in ongoing research programs to gain an appreciation of the current team’s capabilities to help identify potential launch points for your own research portfolio
• Actively participate and then eventually lead cross-functional teams performing business development, research pursuits, proposal technical writing, and program execution
• Articulate hiring needs, participate in the recruitment and hiring process, and then develop top-notch personnel to round out the team required to pursue your research portfolio
• Build relationships with other companies and academia partners to augment and extend internal BBN knowledge, skillsets, and capabilities for your desired research portfolio
• Interface with the larger RTX enterprise and associated business units (Pratt and Whitney, Collins Aerospace, Raytheon) to identify transition opportunities and drive maturing research into product lines
• Distinguish BBN and yourself to customers by leading and performing cutting edge research, publishing, and participating in conferences and workshops

What you will gain:

• Strong leadership team well-versed in government R&D
• Collaborative and collegial environment to push state-of-the-art research
• Technically competent pool of research scientists who are willing to mentor, listen, and help refine your own research vision and goals in the context of the BBN business model
• Business development, programmatic, contracting, finance, security, and HR support
• Access, through RTX, to opportunities that help transition your research and ultimately see it fielded

Qualifications You Must Have:

• PhD degree in relevant Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline
• Minimum of 12 years of prior experience in relevant technology fields and research
• Demonstrated proficiency in cybersecurity technologies, including development of tools
• Experience with application of AI to cybersecurity and research tasks
• Experience developing and leading research and development teams and programs
• Experience in U.S. government technology strategy, policy development, and budget prioritization to identify future technology investment opportunities relative to desired research portfolio direction
• Experience writing and reviewing government research funding proposals in relevant areas
• Broad understanding of government customer base current and emerging needs
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in relevant technology topics
• Active TS clearance with eligibility to obtain SCI

Qualifications We Prefer - Familiar with all, Expert in some:

• Ability to provide visionary technical leadership and desire to grow and lead a group to achieve that vision
• Demonstrated ability to publish relevant papers and speak at external notable conferences
• Excellent mentor, coach, and educator
• Experience performing on or managing advanced technology programs
• Cyber operations experience

What We Offer

Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or are an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs. Some of the benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance and child/adult backup care.

•           Relocation Assistance available

•           This position is Onsite at our Columbia, MD headquarters

To help you achieve your goals, BBN will provide:

• A strong leadership team well-versed in government R&D.
• A collaborative and collegial environment to push state-of-the-art research.
• Technically competent pool of research scientists who are willing to mentor, listen, and help you refine your research vision and goals.
• Business development, programmatic, contracting, finance, and HR support.
• Access, through RTX, to opportunities that help transition your research and ultimately see it fielded.

U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance as of day one of employment.

RTX Corporation is an Aerospace and Defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 185,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, VA.

The salary range for this role is 162,000 USD - 326,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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