AI/ML Technical Management Consultant (R & D Portolio Management 5) - 20249

Who we are

HII - Mission Technologies Division is seeking an AI/ML Technical Management Consultant to serve as the subject matter expert and advisor to the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), AI/ML portfolio director and technical director to fulfill their mission, leveraging commercial technology to solve Department of Defense strategic problems using AI/ML. We are looking for a dynamic and experienced leader and technical expert with AI/ML who would like to make a difference for a national mission of critical importance. The AI/ML Technical Management Consultant is responsible for technical diligence and assessments of DIU projects as well as helping drive AI/ML technology and policy across DoD and the rest of government. We desire the position to be based out of Mountain View, CA, or one of DIU's other locations, (Boston, MA; Austin, TX; Washington, D.C.). Travel can be expected up to 25% and the applicant must have the ability to obtain a top secret clearance with access to compartmented information.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a Technical Advisor in DIU solicitation activities only when a signed NDA is on file. This does not include performing oversight of solicitation activities, voting, or making decisions on solicitation outcomes.
• Provide subject matter expertise in AI/ML systems capabilities across land, sea, air, cyber, and space including robotics programs and technology, prototype development, and technology transition.
• Provide technical expertise in support of technical meetings, exercises, demonstrations, simulations, and engagements.
• Support the development and execution of the prototypes, including need definition, project planning, prototype implementation, post-prototype assessment, and transition to DoD partners.
• Coordinate implementation and engineering support for AI/ML projects, to include coordinating the solution of relevant technical and programmatic problems and assessing the technical feasibility of commercial solutions.
• Work closely with government partners and commercial vendors as a technical manager facilitating non-traditional and/or traditional vendor relationships throughout the prototype development lifecycle.
• Participate in key intra- and inter-agency meetings and coordinate, collaborate, and drive buy-in with senior government officials, executive leadership, and other high-ranking stakeholders.
• Provide reviews and assessments, analyses of applicable technologies and operational concepts, system requirements, test plans, executions, results, and related technical documentation.
• Participate in milestone reviews, testing, and simulations, as appropriate.
• Support responses to official requests for information and other tasks from government partners and stakeholders.
• Leverage support from subject matter experts to perform independent reviews and detailed technical assessments of commercial technology and their specific applications.  
• Develop or utilize analytical and due diligence tools for the evaluation of potential funding projects.
• Build financial models to assess technology investment decisions and assist in program management of specific funding projects.
• Evaluate and define the need for new or enhanced technology funding solutions and applications and to connect and transition solutions and lead project teams to negotiate and close funding relationships.
• Develop and maintain an overview of portfolio priorities, in-process projects, and portfolio companies and manage overall portfolio performance metrics and analytics.
• Respond to official requests for information and other tasks from internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct technology market research, develop market maps, and DoD investment strategy recommendations to support defense modernization priorities in the DIU AI/ML portfolio.
• Establish and cultivate relevant contacts with key stakeholders in the AI/ML portfolio and work with DoD/Government components to identify and document areas of future interest and need for technologies and products to address DoD strategic priorities.
• Maintain contact with the funded partners to ensure the goals of the projects are met.
• Prepare program updates, white papers, technical papers, briefs, and meeting materials on portfolio programs and projects.

What you need to have:

• 15 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 13 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 10 years relevant experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 19 years relevant experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience positions of engineering, technical, and/or product development focus.
• Full-stack proficiency in a relevant set of software languages / frameworks (e.g. Python, C++, PyTorch, Tensorflow, Docker, Kubernetes, etc.)
• Experience with modeling and simulation.
• Experience developing AI / analytic models, performing test & evaluation, and deploying them to production.
• Eligible to achieve Top Secret (TS) clearance - US Citizenship required.
• Familiarity with and/or implementation of Responsible AI (RAI) principles.
• Ability to drive big-picture goals while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Strong project reporting skills with a focus on interdisciplinary communication.
• Self-motivated with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills to achieve results without direct reports.

Bonus points for:

• Expert knowledge of current and emerging AI / computing technologies, academics, investors, and companies.
• 10+ years of professional experience positions of engineering, technical, and/or product development focus.
• Demonstrated track record of successful commercial (non-GOV) software development, product and/or project management.
• Skills in understanding complex technology and translating those environments into executable solutions for large organizations (e.g., large companies, DoD, etc.)
• Ability to exercise mature leadership and sound judgment in resolving problems involving multiple stakeholders and equities. 
• Ability to independently collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data, and present findings and recommendations to senior leadership. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with junior, senior, technical, and non-technical audiences on complex technical issues both orally and in writing, and to mentor less experienced team members.