Director (R&D)

Riverside Research Institute, an independent National Security nonprofit focused on research and development in the national interest, is looking for a senior leader to steer a high-impact R&D program. The role sits within the Cognitive Intel Solutions group (Sensors & Systems), and it centers on building and expanding applied research opportunities for intelligence community and DoD customers, while guiding ongoing IR&D efforts and managing existing contracts. The position is onsite in Fairfax, Virginia, with team members at nearby offices, and it requires U.S. citizenship.

This director-level role is tailor-made for someone who excels at turning strategic vision into funded, multi-disciplinary programs. The right candidate will coordinate across multiple sites, guide a growing portfolio, and partner with customers to shape next-generation sensor and intelligence automation solutions. Riverside Research values leaders who can blend technical insight with business judgment and who want to grow an enterprise that delivers high-quality, responsive service to federal clients.

Riverside’s collaboration-focused culture and strong business base create a platform for a director to expand their own impact while advancing the institute’s R&D capabilities. The role offers the chance to influence technology directions, lead a diverse team, and contribute to meaningful national security work.

The Work of Riverside’s R&D Director

You will guide a research and development team, shaping a portfolio strategy to secure funding and drive year-over-year growth through independent R&D and contract work in artificial intelligence and software development. You’ll provide technical direction and management oversight for a substantial IR&D budget, while leading efforts to capture new work and shape proposals that align with Riverside’s broader vision. Expect frequent customer interactions, including DoD and IC organizations such as NRO, NGA, AFRL, USSF, and SDA, to identify opportunities and nurture relationships that translate into funded programs. Collaboration across Riverside to move revolutionary solutions from concept through field testing, data collection, and software development will be a core part of the cycle, and you will routinely align inputs from customers, technical experts, and internal stakeholders to advance solutions in intelligence automation and sensor technology. You’ll serve as a Principal Investigator on programs, guiding cross-disciplinary teams and ensuring technical direction remains coherent across multiple fields.

Mentoring the next generation of leaders, associate directors, managers, and scientists, will be a key responsibility, along with building consensus among competing inputs, including customer feedback, diverse technical opinions, and team dynamics. The role demands someone who can steward a varied slate of projects, maintain a steady focus on program execution, and balance innovation with practical delivery for high-stakes government work.

Who Fits This Director Role Best

• Active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to obtain SAP access.
• A bachelor's degree and 15 years’ experience, 12 years with a master's degree, 8 years with a PhD; or equivalent work experience is typically required for an employee at this level, and 8 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience in leading teams to solve complex technical problems, and developing and growing teams around a unified vision.
• Experience in new business capture, such as shaping program opportunities and proposal writing; preferred if experienced leading proposal efforts.
• Motivated individuals with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to perform a wide variety of related tasks, have exceptional oral and written skills, and experience presenting to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of program management processes and ability to prioritize multiple, concurrent tasks with minimal supervision.
• An established professional reputation for excellence in customer support and program execution.
• Collaborative leader with the highest integrity and moral compass.
• Sound business judgment, keen conceptual skills, intellectual discipline, self-confidence, imagination, well-developed management skills, and the personal ambition to play a major role in the growth and success of a high-end government research and services company with a strong heritage for high quality and responsive service to its clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

• A bachelor's degree and 15 years’ experience, 12 years with a master's degree, 8 years with a PhD.
• Experience with automation of intelligence collection, orchestration, and analysis activities through software, particularly efforts leveraging Agentic AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
• Has an existing network of USG customer contacts at DoD and IC research and development organizations, or has experience growing and maintaining a customer contact network.
• Demonstrated success in leading the capture of DoD and / or IC R&D opportunities at organizations such as NRO, NGA, AFRL, DARPA, USSF, SDA.
• Technology roadmap development experience.
• Experience with programming and scripting languages (e.g., Java, C++, MATLAB, Python, Bash).
• Proven ability to lead a diverse organization across multiple sites.
• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in related field (Engineering, Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, etc.) and several years of relevant experience required with strong preference for PhD degree.

Pay and Practical Details for This Role

Global Comp: $000,000- $000,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Location and work arrangement: This is an onsite, full-time role based in Fairfax, Virginia, with collaboration across Riverside’s Lexington and Beavercreek offices as needed.

Clearance and citizenship: All Riverside opportunities require U.S. Citizenship. The role requires an active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to obtain SAP access.

Benefits and general terms: Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages aligned with role and experience.

Advice for Applicants for the Riverside Director (R&D) Role

Lead with your security credentials. Put your active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to obtain SAP access at the very top of your resume or profile so a reviewer sees you meet the must-have requirement right away.

Demonstrate leadership of large, funded programs. Highlight hands-on experience directing multi-site teams, managing AI and software development budgets, and shaping proposals or capture efforts that resulted in funded DoD/IC work.

Prepare concise stories that connect strategy to delivery. Be ready to talk through a portfolio strategy you’ve developed, how you expanded a technology baseline, and a successful PI-led program that involved cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Ask a practical question about growth and collaboration. A good question would be about how the director role will collaborate across Fairfax, Lexington, and Beavercreek to accelerate technology transitions and how success in mentorship is measured within the senior leadership team.