Overview

SCCI is currently seeking a Project Manager to join our team! In this position you will work in a newly established R&D department at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and immersive AR/VR technology developed for defense and government customers. This role is the operational backbone of the department; owning program execution, OTA and SBIR capture, R&D pipeline investment planning, and customer relationships while shielding the technical team to focus on building. The ideal candidate brings deep familiarity with DoD acquisition frameworks, earned value management, and technical review processes, paired with enough domain fluency in AI/ML and AR/VR to speak credibly with both government customers and internal developers. If you thrive at the convergence of innovation and disciplined execution in a defense R&D environment, we want to hear from you! This position is located in Dahlgren, VA.

SCCI offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability benefits, 401k with Company Match, time off consisting of 2 weeks of paid vacation, 48 hours of sick/personal leave, and 11 paid Holidays.

Responsibilities:

Own end-to-end program execution for R&D efforts from award through delivery, ensuring scope, schedule, and budget are managed with discipline and transparency while faithfully executing the technical vision established by department leadership and principal developers

Develop and maintain program plans, integrated master schedules, and milestone tracking frameworks that keep parallel R&D efforts on track without bureaucratic overhead or interference with the innovation process

Serve as the primary interface between SCCI’s R&D department and government customers, program offices, and contracting authorities — managing expectations, communicating status, and resolving issues proactively

Shield the technical team from administrative and programmatic overhead, enabling developers and engineers to remain focused on prototype development and innovation

Coordinate and manage proposal responses for OTA and SBIR/STTR submission owning schedule, compliance, and integration of technical inputs from developers

Implement and maintain earned value management processes for R&D efforts, providing accurate and timely cost and schedule performance data to internal leadership and government customers

Interpret EVM metrics to identify emerging cost and schedule risks early, translate findings into actionable management decisions, and communicate variances clearly to stakeholders at all levels

Plan, coordinate and execute formal technical reviews including Critical Design Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, and other program milestones, ensuring all entry and exit criteria are defined, artifacts are prepared, and government stakeholders are engaged effectively

Maintain working fluency in AI/ML and AR/VR domain concepts sufficient to participate meaningfully in technical reviews, challenge assumptions on behalf of the program, and represent program status credibly to government customers and industry partners

Manage action item tracking, review artifacts, and follow-on commitments resulting from formal technical reviews, ensuring closure is documented and communicated

Translate the R&D technical vision and priorities established by department leadership into executable program plans with defined milestones, resource allocations, and delivery commitments

Maintain visibility across all active and pipeline R&D efforts, identifying schedule conflicts, resource constraints, and sequencing risks before they impact delivery

Provide department leadership with accurate, timely program status for cost, schedule, and risk to inform strategic decisions

Maintain a living program risk register across all active R&D efforts, leading regular risk review cadences with technical staff and department leadership to ensure risks are identified early, mitigation strategies are owned and tracked, and residual risks are communicated transparently to customers

Develop and exercise risk mitigation and contingency plans that protect program commitments without constraining the experimental and iterative nature of R&D work

Distinguish between program execution risk and technical risk ensuring each is managed by the right person with the right information

Manage day-to-day relationships with government customers, contracting officers, and OTA consortia on active programs, ensuring SCCI is responsive, compliant, and viewed as a trusted execution partner

Prepare and deliver program status briefings, contract deliverables, and executive-level communications that are clear, accurate, and appropriately tailored to the audience