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Darpa Program Manager Jobs in Matawan, NJ (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Red Bank, NJ · On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Serve as the direct technical interface to the Program Manager and the T&E team counterpart for all ... Prior experience as an LSI, integration lead, or equivalent role on an IARPA or DARPA Performer ...

Peraton

Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Red Bank, NJ

Serve as the direct technical interface to the Program Manager and the T&E team counterpart for all ... Prior experience as an LSI, integration lead, or equivalent role on an IARPA or DARPA Performer ...

Peraton

Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Red Bank, NJ

Serve as the direct technical interface to the Program Manager and the T&E team counterpart for all ... Prior experience as an LSI, integration lead, or equivalent role on an IARPA or DARPA Performer ...

Kitware

Cleared AI Project Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$135K - $175K/yr

We partner with premier government R&D agencies such as DARPA, IARPA, AFRL, Army C5ISR, NOAA, ONR ... program, flexible working hours, six weeks paid time off, 401(k), health insurance, life insurance ...

Peraton

Software Integration Engineer

Red Bank, NJ

$106K - $143K/yr

Manage dependency resolution, version pinning, and reproducible build configurations so that ... Experience working on government-funded research programs (IARPA, DARPA, or equivalent ...

Peraton

Software Integration Engineer

Red Bank, NJ · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Manage dependency resolution, version pinning, and reproducible build configurations so that ... Experience working on government-funded research programs (IARPA, DARPA, or equivalent ...

Peraton

Software Integration Engineer

Red Bank, NJ

$106K - $143K/yr

Manage dependency resolution, version pinning, and reproducible build configurations so that ... Experience working on government-funded research programs (IARPA, DARPA, or equivalent ...

All JobsDarpa Program Manager JobsDarpa Program Manager Jobs in Matawan, NJ

Darpa Program Manager information

See Matawan, NJ salary details

$39.8K

$111K

$162.2K

How much do darpa program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for darpa program manager in Matawan, NJ is $111,030.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,100.00 and $136,900.00 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 are DARPA Program Managers?

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.

How much do DARPA program managers make?

DARPA program managers typically earn between $150,000 and $200,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. They often hold advanced degrees and have expertise in science, engineering, or technology, with some positions offering additional benefits and bonuses based on performance and project scope.

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.

Is it hard to get a job at DARPA?

Securing a position as a DARPA program manager is highly competitive due to the organization's focus on advanced research and innovation. Candidates typically need extensive experience in science, engineering, or technology, along with a strong track record of project management and security clearances. The hiring process involves rigorous evaluation, interviews, and background checks.

What does a DARPA program manager do?

A DARPA program manager oversees the development and execution of advanced research projects in emerging technologies. They manage project teams, allocate funding, set technical goals, and coordinate with government agencies and industry partners to ensure innovative solutions meet strategic objectives.

What is the average salary for DARPA?

DARPA program managers are federal employees, and their salaries typically range from approximately $130,000 to $180,000 annually, depending on experience and seniority. These roles often require advanced technical expertise, security clearances, and project management skills. Compensation may also include benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
What job categories do people searching Darpa Program Manager jobs in Matawan, NJ look for? The top searched job categories for Darpa Program Manager jobs in Matawan, NJ are:
What cities near Matawan, NJ are hiring for Darpa Program Manager jobs? Cities near Matawan, NJ with the most Darpa Program Manager job openings:
Darpa Program Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Darpa Program Manager job openings in Matawan, NJ as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,030 per year, or $53.4 per hour.
Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Lead System Integrator (LSI)

Peraton

Red Bank, NJ • On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Peraton rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

47th of 207 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities
Peraton Labs is seeking a Lead System Integrator (LSI) to serve as the primary technical integration lead. The LSI is responsible for integrating software components developed across multiple R&D teams into a unified, containerized system that meets evaluation requirements. The role encompasses preparing and quality-controlling all software deliverables, maintaining CI/CD pipelines, managing monthly code drops and quarterly major code revisions, coordinating self-test leaderboard submissions, and serving as the primary technical interface to the Test & Evaluation (T&E) team.
The ideal candidate operates at the intersection of generative AI/ML pipeline development and DevOps for research programs. They must be comfortable translating research prototypes into production-quality containerized deliverables, enforcing coding standards across academic and industry subcontractors, and ensuring the integrated system passes automated evaluation on government testbeds the team does not control.
Position Responsibilities may include:
  • Own the end-to-end integration of software components into a single containerized deliverable, ensuring containers build and run correctly on T&E testbed infrastructure
  • Design, build, and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI, Jenkins) that automate container builds, unit/integration testing, static analysis, and artifact packaging for all software components
  • Enforce software coding best practices across all team members and subcontractors, including inline comments, documentation, version control hygiene, and reproducible build processes
  • Serve as the direct technical interface to the Program Manager and the T&E team counterpart for all software delivery, integration, and troubleshooting matters. Coordinate subcontractor software inputs, resolve interface conflicts, manage integration schedules, and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) defining boundaries between team components

#PLABS26
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Minimum of 8+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree, 6+ years with a Master's degree, or 3+ years with a PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
  • Must have professional software engineering experience with at least 3 years in a systems integration or technical lead role on government-funded research programs (IARPA, DARPA, or equivalent)
  • Strong proficiency in Python and C/C++ software development
  • Demonstrated experience with Docker containerization for software delivery, including multi-stage builds, dependency pinning, hardware passthrough (USB/GPU), and image hardening for deployment environments
  • Experience designing and operating CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions) for automated build, test, and deployment workflows
  • Familiarity with REST API design and implementation for system interoperability
  • Experience coordinating software deliverables across multiple organizations (industry and academic subcontractors) on a single program
  • Ability to produce clear technical documentation including software design documents, user manuals, API specifications, and integration test reports
  • US Citizenship with the ability to obtain a security clearance

Desired Qualifications
  • Prior experience as an LSI, integration lead, or equivalent role on an IARPA or DARPA Performer team, with direct experience delivering containerized software to an independent T&E evaluation team. Ideally, prior work with government testbed environments, including familiarity with IARPA or DARPA T&E workflows, leaderboard scoring systems, and sequestered evaluation processes
  • Familiarity with generative AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch preferred), including packaging trained models for inference, running inference pipelines, and integrating model outputs into larger systems
  • Knowledge of Agile development practices (sprint planning, backlog management, retrospectives) applied to research program software delivery
  • Hands-on experience with software radio and GNU Radio (3.8+), including out-of-tree (OOT) module development, flowgraph construction, and integration with SDR hardware (Ettus USRP series preferred)
  • Experience with formal verification or formal methods tools (SMT solvers such as Z3, property-based testing, or symbolic regression tools such as PySR)
  • MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred

Peraton Overview
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Target Salary Range
$112,000 - $179,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
EEO
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.

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About Peraton

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At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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