Technical Engagement Lead

This position is based onsite at the SEI's customer location at Eglin AFB in Florida. This is not a remote position.

Position Summary:

This position within the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) will be physically located at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, supporting the Rapid Fielding of High Assurance Software Technical Directorate. This role serves as a trusted advisor and transformation leader, working directly with Department of Defense (DoD) program offices and stakeholders to help them navigate complex technical, organizational, and acquisition challenges. This position emphasizes leadership, systems thinking, and change enablement—helping programs evolve how they plan, acquire, govern, and sustain software-intensive capabilities.

The Technical Engagement Lead will be expected to build trust quickly, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and provide clear, steady guidance during periods of uncertainty, organizational friction, or external pressure. Success requires the ability to translate complexity into actionable direction, align stakeholders around a shared vision, and help programs move from current-state constraints toward achievable, improved future states. This role is ideal for a leader who has participated in or led meaningful transformations in DoD or similarly complex environments and who brings both confidence and calm when operating in high-consequence, high-ambiguity settings.

Key Activities:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to government program offices, helping leadership understand challenges, tradeoffs, and options related to software-intensive systems and acquisition.
• Engage with senior government and contractor stakeholders to build alignment, shared understanding, and momentum toward improved practices and outcomes.
• Help programs assess their current state across acquisition, governance, engineering, and organizational processes, and articulate practical, phased improvement strategies.
• Guide and support organizational, cultural, and process transformations, including shifts toward Agile, DevSecOps, or modern acquisition approaches, as appropriate to program context.
• Facilitate difficult conversations, decision-making, and prioritization in environments characterized by competing objectives, legacy constraints, and external pressures.
• Translate technical and programmatic complexity into clear, concise communication suitable for leadership decision-making.
• Provide steady leadership and continuity during periods of transition, disruption, or heightened scrutiny.
• Collaborate with SEI technical experts to bring the right depth of expertise to customer challenges while maintaining a strategic, integrative perspective.
• Capture lessons learned and help codify repeatable approaches and insights that can benefit other government programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required:

• BS with 8 years, MS with 5 years, or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience in engineering, systems, management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with or within Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs, program offices, or government-sponsored development efforts.
• Proven ability to lead, influence, or enable transformation, whether technical, organizational, process-oriented, or cultural.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively across leadership, technical staff, contractors, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to operate effectively in ambiguous, high-pressure environments, providing clarity and steadiness during periods of uncertainty.
• Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to see interdependencies across technology, people, process, and policy.
• Experience advising senior leaders and helping them make informed decisions under constraints.
• Ability to travel (~25%) to support SEI mission needs.
• Ability to work onsite at SEI or customer facilities at least 75% of the time.
• Applicants must have an active Department of Defense Secret security clearance, and must be able to meet additional customer-specific security requirements.

Desired / Plus:

• Prior experience leading or supporting Agile, DevSecOps, or digital modernization initiatives within government or regulated environments.
• Familiarity with software-intensive systems sufficient to maintain credibility with engineering teams (deep coding expertise not required).
• Experience navigating complex stakeholder ecosystems involving multiple contractors, oversight organizations, and governance bodies.
• Demonstrated mentorship or leadership of multidisciplinary teams.

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Remote

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: