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Darpa Program Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

EnduroSat

Contracts Manager

Denver, CO · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

Collaborate with Legal, finance, business units and program management teams to track contract ... Deep familiarity with FAR/DFARS, agency-specific procurement frameworks (NASA, DoD, AFRL, DARPA ...

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Darpa Program information

See Colorado salary details

$22.6K

$48.1K

$66.2K

How much do darpa program jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for darpa program in Colorado is $48,077.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,400.00 and $49,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 expertise in science or engineering, experience leading research projects, and often an advanced degree (e.g., PhD) in a relevant field. Familiarity with project management tools, government contracting processes, and technical proposal evaluation is typically required. Strategic vision, strong communication, and the ability to inspire and coordinate multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills. These abilities are crucial for successfully designing, launching, and managing high-impact, innovative research programs that address complex national challenges.

What is a DARPA Program?

A DARPA Program refers to a research and development initiative managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense. These programs are designed to create breakthrough technologies and capabilities for national security, often focusing on high-risk, high-reward innovations. DARPA Programs span a wide range of fields, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and advanced materials. Each program is typically led by a program manager and aims to transition successful technologies to military or commercial use. Participation often involves collaboration among universities, private companies, and government labs.

What are some typical challenges faced when working on a DARPA program team?

Working on a DARPA program team often involves tackling highly ambitious technical goals with tight deadlines and evolving requirements. Team members must be adaptable, as projects may pivot based on research findings or shifting priorities. Collaboration is key, as teams are typically multidisciplinary and may include external partners from academia, industry, and government. Successfully managing these dynamics while maintaining innovation and compliance with security protocols is a common challenge.

What is the difference between Darpa Program vs Research Scientist?

AspectDarpa ProgramResearch Scientist
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees in science or engineering, often with security clearancesRequires at least a master's degree, often a Ph.D., in a relevant scientific or technical field
Work EnvironmentGovernment-funded projects, often in labs or specialized facilities, with a focus on innovation and defense applicationsAcademic, industrial, or government labs; conducting experiments, data analysis, and publishing research
Employer & IndustryU.S. Department of Defense, research agencies, and contractorsUniversities, research institutions, or corporate R&D departments

While Darpa Programs focus on funding and managing innovative defense research projects, Research Scientists conduct scientific investigations across various fields, often contributing to knowledge and technology development. Both roles require strong technical credentials, but Darpa Programs are more project and funding-oriented within the defense sector, whereas Research Scientists focus on scientific discovery and experimentation.

What are the most commonly searched types of Darpa Program jobs in Colorado? The most popular types of Darpa Program jobs in Colorado are:
What job categories do people searching Darpa Program jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Darpa Program jobs in Colorado are:
What cities in Colorado are hiring for Darpa Program jobs? Cities in Colorado with the most Darpa Program job openings:
Darpa Program jobs near you
Infographic showing various Darpa Program job openings in Colorado as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, and 28% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $48,077 per year, or $23.1 per hour.

Chief Engineer, Space Missions

Redwire Space

Littleton, CO

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Where dreams and reality collide and the output is out of this world. At Redwire Space, we are a team of dreamers and doers. Where the impossible becomes possible, and every day is an opportunity to learn and get one step closer to knowing the unknown. Join us on our mission to expand humanity’s presence in space.

Through continuous innovation and operational excellence, our Space Missions team leverages engineering talent and capabilities to develop and deliver spacecraft and space products at speed and scale to our customers. These cutting-edge capabilities are helping to revolutionize spaceflight and the space defense mission space. With many exciting projects on the horizon, our team could use your curiosity, passion, talent and experience to help us Build Above.

Summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Chief Engineer, Space Missions located at our facility in Littleton, CO. In this role you will serve as the senior technical authority responsible for ensuring technical excellence, systems integrity, and mission success across the Space Missions portfolio of programs. You'll operate across multiple programs, allocating time to the highest-risk and most technically complex challenges, providing deep technical leadership, and serving as a unifying technical fabric across the Space Missions Engineering organization. The Chief Engineer is accountable for embedding systems thinking, enforcing disciplined engineering practices, and elevating technical rigor across the full product lifecycle—from concept through flight operations. This role partners closely with Program and Engineering leadership to resolve hard technical problems, adjudicate technical tradeoffs, and ensure mission success.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the senior technical authority across the Space Missions portfolio, ensuring technical integrity, rigor, and mission assurance.
  • Allocate time across programs to address the most complex, high-risk technical challenges, providing hands-on technical leadership and independent technical judgment.
  • Drive systems thinking throughout the full spacecraft lifecycle, ensuring cohesive architecture, requirements flow down, interfaces, and verification closure.
  • Lead and participate in independent technical reviews, gate reviews, readiness assessments, anomaly and failure resolution efforts, and design decisions, bringing cross-program insight and historical context.
  • Establish and uphold engineering principles, standards, and best practices across spacecraft, products, and disciplines.
  • Mentor and coach technical leaders and Responsible Engineers.
  • Provide technical oversight during proposal development, architecture definition, and early mission concept studies.
  • Act as a trusted technical interface to customers, partners, and internal executives.
Ideal Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
  • 20+ years of experience in spacecraft or complex aerospace system development.
  • Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or equivalent senior technical authority.
  • Deep understanding of full spacecraft system architecture including mission design, avionics, power, GNC, software, structures, thermal, and integration amp; test.
  • Proven ability to solve complex, cross-disciplinary technical problems and adjudicate difficult engineering tradeoffs.
  • Experience leading technical execution through SRR, PDR, CDR, qualification, launch readiness, and on-orbit operations.
  • US Citizenship required - Eligible for a U.S. security clearance
Desired Skills
  • Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline.
  • Experience working across a spacecraft full program lifecycle.
  • Experience operating in a matrixed engineering organization with multiple concurrent spacecraft programs.
  • Background supporting government space customers (NASA, Space Force, SDA, DARPA) and/or prime contractors.
  • Experience leading or participating in independent review teams, red teams, or mission assurance boards.
  • Strong command of systems engineering principles, requirements management, verification and validation, and configuration control.
  • Strong knowledge of digital engineering, MBSE, and modern verification approaches.
  • Demonstrated record of mentoring senior engineers and shaping technical culture.
  • Ability to influence technical outcomes across multiple programs without direct line authority.
  • Active U.S. security clearance.
Grow with us as we innovate the next generation capabilities for a new era of space exploration! We offer a highly competitive benefits package along with a commitment to our core values of Integrity, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, and Excellence.
Don’t meet every single requirement above? No worries. We want people who can grow, collaborate and build a stronger team. We strive to build a diverse and inclusive culture, so if you’re excited about this job posting, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Pay Range
$222,000 - $280,000/year

How We Determine What We Pay (Compensation Philosophy)
Redwire determines pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data, for our locations throughout the US. We will evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index, in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. Additionally, we consider the external market rate, the amount we have budgeted internally, and internal equity within the company for the same position. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
Redwire is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Redwire is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
All offers of employment at Redwire are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US. Note that some positions will also require US citizenship or ability to obtain a security clearance due to requirements of a classified program.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR Click Here

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