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Darpa Program Manager Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

Chief Of Staff - BBN Technologies

Cambridge, MA ยท On-site

$132.40 - $251.60/hr

DARPA, ONR, AFRL, IARPA, OUSD, etc.) * Experience engaging with senior business leaders and ... Program Management / Technical Project Management / Principal Investigator / Finance / Subcontracts ...

New

Chief RF Engineer, Space Radar

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

Run programs to cost and schedule, own technical risk, and manage subcontractors, vendors, and ... example SDA, SSC, DARPA, AFRL, NRO, or national labs. * Spaceborne or new space experience ...

Chief RF Engineer, Space Radar

Boston, MA ยท On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

Run programs to cost and schedule, own technical risk, and manage subcontractors, vendors, and ... example SDA, SSC, DARPA, AFRL, NRO, or national labs. * Spaceborne or new space experience ...

Chief Of Staff - BBN Technologies

Cambridge, MA ยท On-site

$132.40 - $251.60/hr

DARPA, ONR, AFRL, IARPA, OUSD, etc.) Experience engaging with senior business leaders and ... Program Management / Technical Project Management / Principal Investigator / Finance / Subcontracts ...

New

Systems Lead

Boston, MA ยท On-site

... resource management, and risk management * Track project milestones, technical risks, and ... Experience working on DARPA or other government-funded R&D programs * Background in integrated ...

... resource management, and risk management * Track project milestones, technical risks, and ... Experience working on DARPA or other government-funded R&D programs * Background in integrated ...

Senior Software Engineer

Woburn, MA ยท On-site

$139K - $180K/yr

... management of these assets to assure the survivability of US air and space assets. SAAM also ... Our main customer focus is on Air Force, Navy, and DARPA research programs. The Role: The SAAM ...

Showing results 21-40

Darpa Program Manager information

See Massachusetts salary details

$42K

$117.4K

$171.5K

How much do darpa program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for darpa program manager in Massachusetts is $117,360.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,800.00 and $144,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Darpa Program Manager vs DARPA Contract Officer?

AspectDarpa Program ManagerDARPA Contract Officer
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in science, engineering, or related fields; experience in project managementBachelor's or master's degree in business, finance, or related fields; contracting experience
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, project teams, innovation-focused settingsGovernment procurement offices, contract management divisions
Employer & IndustryU.S. Department of Defense, research and development sectorU.S. Department of Defense, procurement and contracting sector

While both roles operate within DARPA and the defense industry, Darpa Program Managers focus on overseeing innovative research projects, whereas DARPA Contract Officers handle procurement and contract administration. Understanding these distinctions helps candidates target their skills and career goals effectively.

What is a DARPA Program Manager?

DARPA Program Managers are specialized professionals who oversee and guide cutting-edge research and development projects funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). They are responsible for conceptualizing new programs, managing project execution, coordinating with researchers and industry partners, and ensuring that projects meet ambitious technical goals. Program Managers typically have strong scientific or engineering backgrounds and are selected for their vision, expertise, and ability to drive innovation. Their work is critical to developing breakthrough technologies that enhance national security and defense capabilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a DARPA Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a DARPA Program Manager, you need an advanced degree in a STEM field, extensive research experience, and a proven track record in technology innovation or project leadership. Familiarity with government contracting, proposal review systems, and technical evaluation tools is typically required. Exceptional communication, strategic vision, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines are vital soft skills for success in this role. These competencies are crucial for effectively guiding high-risk, high-reward research projects that advance national security and technological innovation.

What are some unique challenges faced by DARPA Program Managers when overseeing innovative research projects?

DARPA Program Managers often face the challenge of managing high-risk, high-reward research initiatives that may not have clear precedents or guaranteed outcomes. They must coordinate multidisciplinary teams, balance ambitious timelines, and navigate strict government compliance requirements. Additionally, PMs need to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government while ensuring projects remain aligned with DARPA's mission to drive transformative breakthroughs. This requires agility, resilience, and strong communication skills to adapt to changing priorities and technical uncertainties.
What are popular job titles related to Darpa Program Manager jobs in Massachusetts? For Darpa Program Manager jobs in Massachusetts, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Darpa Program Manager jobs in Massachusetts look for? The top searched job categories for Darpa Program Manager jobs in Massachusetts are:
What cities in Massachusetts are hiring for Darpa Program Manager jobs? Cities in Massachusetts with the most Darpa Program Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Darpa Program Manager job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,360 per year, or $56.4 per hour.

Senior Scientist - Human Computer Interaction (UX/HCI/HMI)

Charles River Analytics

Cambridge, MA โ€ข On-site

$170K - $225K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Charles River Analytics, a GRVTY company, creates solutions and technology to tackle the world's most challenging problems. Our team of technological entrepreneurs works together to push at the forefront of enhanced AI, robotics, smart sensing, and human-centered computing. The resulting research and development help to continuously advance government programs and discover new possibilities in the commercial marketplace. At Charles River, we take great pride in our success at attracting and retaining the most talented and creative problem-solvers in our field. Now as part of GRVTY, we offer the same trusted capabilities with increased organizational depth and expanded capacity across mission-critical national security domains. Are you ready to accelerate our mission-focused innovations? We'd love to hear from you!
Charles River Analytics has an exciting opportunity for a passionate senior level researcher with experience in Human-Systems Integration, Human Factors, or Human-Computer Interaction to develop new tools and interfaces that help users partner with technology in challenging work environments.
In this role, you will lead and grow teams of researchers, designers, and engineers to understand work domains and user-support requirements, develop new human-AI interaction concepts, and demonstrate and evaluate interactive prototypes. You will define, propose, and direct technical work, building and maintaining strong relationships with customers, sponsors, and partners. You will also provide Human Systems subject matter expertise and will collaborate with staff across disciplines to conceive and pursue research opportunities in new and exciting technical areas and domains.
How you will make a difference:
  • Develop and execute a research agenda in areas of Human-Systems Integration and Human-Autonomy Teaming
  • Study, model, and understand diverse customer needs in complex systems
  • Develop work-support solutions that build on principles of human perception, cognition, and decision making
  • Coordinate and oversee the work of other researchers, designers, and software engineers to implement and evaluate solution concepts as part of a user-centered design process
  • Build and maintain relationships with customers and collaborators
  • Lead and contribute to proposals, technical reports, and research publications
  • Present work at briefings and conferences

Areas to be Explored:
  • Human-AI Teaming, Decision-Support Systems
  • Command and Control, Mission Planning, Supervisory Control, Predictive Health and Maintenance, Cyber Operations, Intelligence Operations

What do you need?
  • PhD or Master's degree in Human Factors, Cognitive Systems Engineering, Interaction Design, or Cognitive Science (or a related field)
  • Proven record of capturing and leading research and development contracts or grants as a Principal Investigator, Technical Lead, or Chief Engineer, or Program Manager
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience analyzing work environments and conceiving, demonstrating, and evaluating user interface
  • Strong written and verbal skills and prior experience in proposal writing, customer interaction, and presentation at technical conferences; Proven business development experience with DoD pursuits preferred
  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Ability to be onsite at least 3 days per week (60% onsite / 40% remote) in Cambridge, MA

What does our Ideal Candidate have?
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in HCI, HSI, or similar
  • Domain experience in areas related to autonomous systems, intelligence analysis, or tactical aviation
  • Experience as a PI or PM capturing and leading applied R&D programs through DARPA, AFRL, ONR, ARL, IARPA or other related government organizations
  • Military Service or DoD work experience
  • Technical or peer-reviewed publications in any of the above fields
  • Strong design aesthetic and functional reasoning skills with superior attention to detail
  • Knowledge and experience with state-of-the art machine learning algorithms and autonomy systems

Salary Range
$170,000 - $225,000
The above salary range is an estimate based on the internal job level(s) for which this role is being considered. The final salary will be decided after careful evaluation of the individual's work experience, education, and overall qualifications. This range does not include the substantial total rewards, as listed below, that you will also be eligible for as an employee at Charles River Analytics.
Why Charles River?
Charles River Analytics thrives on collaboration and values each team member. We offer competitive compensation plus bonus and retirement contribution, with an attractive benefits package including 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance, as well as vision, life, and disability insurance, paid maternity/paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, monthly gym allowance, free parking, generous paid time off, and a casual environment. We offer tremendous flexibility and value work-life balance. We are also accessible by public transportation. Charles River became an employee-owned company in 2012, to set the stage for the next-generation of innovation, service, and growth in R&D. As we entered 2026, we joined forces with GRVTY, gaining the scale and capacity to transition, field, and sustain our innovations faster and more effectively than ever before.