Distinguished sUAS Program Manager

Job No: 503657
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: Research Institute Staff
Department: Sensor Test & Evaluation - 250611
Pay Grade: P5 - Exempt
Advertised: June 22, 2026
Applications close: June 26, 2026

Position Summary:UDRI is initiating a new, high visibility effort focused on the integration of EW and other mission payloads onto small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) platforms. The effort is at a very early stage and is expected to evolve significantly as requirements mature. The Distinguished sUAS Program Manager will be responsible for shaping the project direction, defining the technical and programmatic roadmap, identifying and evaluating contributors, and driving the execution of internal and external integration and test activities. The role requires a high-performing, proactive, strategic, and technically credible leader who can operate with minimal direction, manage diverse resources, and ensure successful coordination with government sponsors, payload vendors, UAS manufacturers, and internal engineering teams.

Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in technical field related to sUAS technology
- 13 years of relevant experience
- Experience with sUAS systems, mission payloads, avionics, or related aerospace/defense integration environments
- Familiar with EW concepts including spoofing, jamming, and non-traditional EW
- Experience in technical domains relevant to sUAS payloads including:
- Electronic Warfare (EW)
- Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
- Experience managing cost, schedule, and performance across multiple efforts
- Ability to operate independently with minimal guidance, especially with ambiguous, evolving program requirements
- Ability to balance technical leadership with programmatic oversight
- Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability to interface effectively with government and industry senior leaders
- Active Secret security clearance
- Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen

Preferred Qualifications:
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

- Familiarity with EW payloads or multi-payload integration environments
- Demonstrated success planning and executing complex integration and test activities
- Experience managing subcontractors, external vendors, and third-party service providers to deliver projects on time and within scope
- Hands-on integration and test experience including hardware and software integration
- Experience with government program execution, incremental funding models, and NTE contract structures
- Prior experience as Principal Investigator (PI) or Program Manager (PM) within a research or applied engineering organization
- Active Top Secret security clearance

Special Instructions to Applicants:
To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.