C-UxS PM

Position Overview

The C-UxS PM at Riverside Research is responsible for identifying and developing technology solutions for clients using company products, outsourced technology solutions, and/or proprietary tools/techniques. They work closely with DoD and commercial partners to define project goals and translate user needs into structured problem statements. Performance is typically evaluated based on capturing the consulting engagement and/or utilization.

Responsibilities

• Lead CUAS projects from problem curation through prototype execution and transition in coordination with DoD and commercial company partners.
• Write Statements of Work (SOWs), manage schedules, track deliverables, and maintain accurate updates in DIU systems (e.g., Salesforce).
• Issue task orders, monitor contract performance, and ensure projects deliver on time and within scope.
• Work with DoD stakeholders (Services, CCMDs, PEOs) to identify CUAS and/or other autonomy related capability gaps and define project goals.
• Translate user needs into structured problem statements that commercial vendors can address.
• Manage relationships across DoD customers and interagency partners.
• Identify and recruit commercial companies with CUAS/autonomy solutions.
• Guide vendors through DIU’s acquisition process and help them adapt products to DoD needs.
• Conduct technical diligence sufficient to evaluate commercial solutions (not as a deep SME).
• Develop transition plans to move successful prototypes into programs of record or other scaling pathways.
• Represent DIU’s CUAS efforts to senior DoD leaders, industry partners, and interagency stakeholders.
• Prepare clear reports, updates, and briefings for leadership.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 8 years with a Master's degree, a PhD with 5 years' experience required.
• Demonstrated experience in program management (preferably in DoD acquisition, technology transition, or rapid prototyping).
• Familiarity with autonomy, unmanned systems, or CUAS technologies - enough to ask the right questions and assess vendor claims.
• Experience writing SOWs, building schedules, issuing task orders, or managing similar project documentation.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and keep complex projects on track.
• Mix of DoD/USG and commercial experience strongly preferred.
• Current TS/SCI clearance required.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience trying to sell technology to DoD or working inside a PEO/PM office.
• Frustration with DoD bureaucracy and a passion to improve it.
• Prior operational or combat experience (reinforcing end-user empathy).
• Networks in autonomy, CUAS, or defense innovation communities.

Attributes

• Energetic & Mission-Driven – motivated to solve hard DoD problems with commercial technology.
• Entrepreneurial – seeks opportunities, builds networks, and grows DIU’s impact.
• Independent – makes informed decisions and keeps projects moving without constant guidance.
• Agile & Flexible – navigates DoD bureaucracy and finds ways to get to “yes.”
• Organized & Detail-Oriented – comfortable with the mundane PM tasks that make projects successful.
• Fixer/Solver – proactively identifies risks, mitigates issues, and clears blockers.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees. Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.