Principal Technical Advisor

About the role

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted. The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues. SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future. We have an immediate need for a Principal Technical Advisor to provide onsite support out of Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to the DARPA Biological Technologies Office Director (OD).
• Work closely with the OD on high-priority technical, strategic, and operational matters.
• Design and apply AI-enabled approaches that dramatically expand the Front Office's ability to synthesize information, evaluate alternatives, identify patterns, and act with precision.
• Augment Front Office decision making through technical breadth, strategic insight, and leveraging of advanced AI-enabled analytical tools.
• Provide analytical assessments of emerging science and technology areas, portfolio dynamics, and external developments to support the OD in evaluating opportunities, risks, and strategic choices.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, computer science, applied math, or operations research (Required)
• 15+ years of experience (Required)
• Demonstrated success in advising senior leaders in technically complex, high-consequence environments (senior executives, government leaders, laboratory directors, or R&D portfolio leaders) (Required)
• Experience using advanced AI tools to accelerate, deepen, and enhance the strategic value of work products (Required)
• Experience synthesizing data and utilizing visualization tools to support decision making (Required)
• Familiarity with AI platforms, large language models, retrieval-augmented workflows, agentic research tools, and AI-assisted analytical environments (Required)
• Active Secret clearance (Required)
• Able to report to Arlington, VA to provide full-time onsite support (Required)
• PhD (Desired)
• Active TS/SCI clearance (Desired)
• Experience in defense, national security, Federal R&D, FFRDC, UARC, venture-backed deep tech, or similarly complex innovation ecosystems (Desired)

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Health savings accounts
• Retirement savings plans
• Life and disability insurance programs
• Programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work

Pay

Salary range: USD $175,000.00/Yr. - USD $225,000.00/Yr.