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Darpa Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Leidos

Mid-Level Systems Reliability Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$101K - $127K/yr

Experience supporting NASA, DoD, or DARPA programs. * Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area. * US Citizenship is required and the ...

Leidos

Systems Safety and Reliability Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$101K - $127K/yr

The Systems Safety and RAM Engineer will work on small or large programs associated with the DoD, DARPA, NASA, and commercial applications. The selected candidate is expected to have a significant ...

Leidos

Systems Safety and Reliability Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$101K - $127K/yr

The Systems Safety and RAM Engineer will work on small or large programs associated with the DoD, DARPA, NASA, and commercial applications. The selected candidate is expected to have a significant ...

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$77.5K

$100.1K

$124.6K

How much do darpa jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for darpa in Alabama is $100,101.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $107,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a darpa job?

A DARPA job typically involves working for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a U.S. government agency responsible for developing emerging technologies for national security. Employees at DARPA include scientists, engineers, program managers, and analysts who work on cutting-edge research in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and defense innovation. These roles often require advanced technical expertise, creativity, and the ability to manage high-risk, high-reward projects.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working at darpa?

Professionals at DARPA often operate in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where they must manage complex, cutting-edge research projects with ambitious goals and tight deadlines. Navigating diverse teams of scientists, engineers, and external stakeholders requires strong coordination and clear communication. Additionally, balancing innovative thinking with the strict regulations and reporting requirements of government agencies can be demanding. However, these challenges are rewarding for those passionate about advancing technology and making a significant impact on national security and innovation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the darpa position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a DARPA Program Manager or professional, you need a deep expertise in science, engineering, or technology, along with advanced degrees and significant experience in research and development. Familiarity with project management tools, government contracting processes, and defense R&D systems such as BAA or SBIR is essential. Outstanding leadership, communication, and strategic vision are critical soft skills for guiding interdisciplinary teams and championing high-impact projects. These qualifications are crucial to effectively drive innovation and manage breakthrough research in a demanding government environment.

What are the most commonly searched types of Darpa jobs in Alabama?

The most popular types of Darpa jobs in Alabama are:

What are popular job titles related to Darpa jobs in Alabama?

For Darpa jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Darpa jobs in Alabama look for?

The top searched job categories for Darpa jobs in Alabama are:

Darpa jobs near you
Infographic showing various Darpa job openings in Alabama as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $100,101 per year, or $48.1 per hour.

Principal Engineer - Contested Autonomy and Navigation

Via Logic LLC

Huntsville, AL • On-site

$131.30 - $237.35/hr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Serve as a Principal Engineer for the Contested Autonomy and Navigation team in Huntsville, AL. Our team’s mission is to: (1) develop and demonstrate contested autonomy and navigation technologies to meet urgent military operational needs to operate in contested, RF‑challenged environments, and (2) rapidly transition this technology to operational platforms to outpace real‑world adversary threats. We support a variety of military autonomous vehicles including drones, unmanned underwater vehicles, and ground robots. Projects involve small teams of engineers working together to meet aggressive customer schedules aimed at near‑term field demonstrations of emerging capabilities. Typical customers include Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Army engineering research centers.

We are looking for an individual who enjoys leading teams and growing new work while also "keeping hands dirty" writing software and touching hardware. The position will involve a mix of direct and indirect work focused on development of innovative solutions related to autonomous behavior generation, object detection, multi‑vehicle collaboration, and GPS‑denied navigation for autonomous vehicles.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Manage and lead highly‑technical projects related to autonomous systems operating in contested environments, with an emphasis on GPS‑denied operations
  • Perform as a senior technical independent contributor for algorithm development (computer vision, optimal estimation, AI/ML, path planning, control algorithms) and software deployment to real‑time edge systems
  • Recommend and develop new technical solutions and products in support of customer challenges under customer and internally funded research projects
  • Support business development activities including white papers, proposals, teaming discussions, technical conferences, and targeted marketing discussions with new customers (but no cold calls)
  • Support hardware / software integration and local field testing activities
  • Support travel for business development activities and customer‑facing field demonstrations (not expected to be more than 10% of your time)
Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering or related technical field (including Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering) with 12+ years of experience or a Master’s Degree in advanced technical field with 10+ years of experience
  • Subject matter expertise in algorithm development for autonomy, robotics, unmanned systems, and GPS‑denied navigation
  • 10+ years of experience in C/C++, Python, and/or MATLAB
  • Experience leading research and development teams to successful outcomes in prototype projects for customers such as DARPA, SOCOM, Army DEVCOM, and AFRL
  • Successful history of business development activities including leadership roles in competitive white paper and proposal development that led to contract awards
  • Must be a US Citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
Preferred Qualifications
  • Doctorate in technical field listed above with 10+ years of experience
  • Active Top Secret clearance or above
  • Deep customer familiarity with one or two government defense research organizations
  • History of involvement with technical conferences and journals (frequent publications, serving as session chair, invited panel member, or journal editor, etc.)
Pay Range

$131,300.00 - $237,350.00

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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