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Defense Innovation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Red Cell Partners

Head of Federal Growth

Washington, DC · On-site +1

Head of Federal Growth Federal / Department of War Role Summary Red Cell Federal is building something fundamentally different from any other organization in the defense innovation ecosystem: an ...

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Defense Innovation information

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$11K

$97.6K

$116K

How much do defense innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense innovation in the United States is $97,583.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,000.00 and $104,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals working in Defense Innovation roles?

Professionals in Defense Innovation often navigate the complex intersection of military needs, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements. One common challenge is balancing the rapid pace of technological change with lengthy procurement and approval processes. Additionally, collaboration across multidisciplinary teams—including engineers, military personnel, and government stakeholders—requires strong communication and adaptability. Navigating security protocols and maintaining confidentiality while fostering innovation can also be demanding, making flexibility and creative problem-solving essential for success.

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

To thrive in Defense Innovation, you need expertise in systems engineering, technology development, and analytical problem-solving, often supported by a background in STEM fields and experience with defense protocols. Familiarity with project management tools, rapid prototyping platforms, and relevant security clearances is typically required. Strong collaboration, adaptability, and strategic thinking are critical soft skills to excel in this evolving landscape. These competencies are essential for driving technological advancements and delivering effective solutions to complex defense challenges.

What is Defense Innovation?

Defense innovation refers to the development and application of new technologies, strategies, and processes within the defense sector to enhance national security and military effectiveness. It involves adapting cutting-edge advancements—such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems—to address evolving threats and challenges. Defense innovation is crucial for maintaining a technological edge, improving operational capabilities, and ensuring that military organizations can effectively respond to current and future security needs.

What is the difference between Defense Innovation vs Defense Analyst?

AspectDefense Innovation

AspectDefense Innovation

Defense Innovation focuses on developing new technologies and strategies to enhance national security, often involving research, prototyping, and collaboration with tech firms. Defense Analysts evaluate existing defense programs, analyze military data, and provide strategic insights. While both roles support defense objectives, Defense Innovation emphasizes creating future solutions, whereas Defense Analysts focus on assessing current systems. Candidates often need similar security clearances and technical backgrounds, but their daily tasks differ significantly.

More about Defense Innovation jobs
What cities are hiring for Defense Innovation jobs? Cities with the most Defense Innovation job openings:
What states have the most Defense Innovation jobs? States with the most job openings for Defense Innovation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Defense Innovation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Defense Innovation jobs are:
Defense Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Defense Innovation job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,583 per year, or $46.9 per hour.
Senior/Principal Lead Delivery Engineer - Defense

Senior/Principal Lead Delivery Engineer - Defense

Luminary Cloud

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$142K - $197K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Full-time position | San Mateo, CA (Onsite)
Note: In accordance with export control regulations, this position requires candidates to qualify as a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)). An active or obtainable U.S. security clearance (Secret or TS/SCI) is preferred.
JOIN THE REVOLUTION IN ENGINEERING INNOVATION
Luminary helps engineering companies be more competitive by getting to market faster, creating better products, and reducing development risk. We do this through our Physics AI platform - the fastest and easiest way to build and deploy models that understand and instantly predict physical reality with precision. Our customers span industries from automotive and aerospace to defense, industrial, semiconductors, and energy - ranging from hyper-growth startups to Fortune 100 enterprises. Luminary is a Series B company headquartered in San Mateo, California.
YOUR IMPACT
As the Senior/Principal Lead Delivery Engineer for Defense, you own customer outcomes for Luminary's defense and government engagements - prime contractors, DoD agencies, defense innovation organizations, and national labs. You are a dual hat - project manager and product manager - leading a matrixed value delivery team across Applications Engineering, Applied AI/ML, Data & Platform, and product engineering. You operate fluently in environments with security, compliance, and ITAR/EAR requirements, and you partner with the GTM team on program engagement and expansion.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Own end-to-end customer outcomes across new and existing defense and government accounts - prime contractors, DoD agencies (DARPA, AFRL, NRL, Navy), and national labs - from discovery through model deployment and embedding into program workflows.
  • Author SOWs and RFP/RFI responses that navigate government contracting items - milestones, deliverables, IP, and export control - and own delivery accountability against them.
  • Lead a value delivery team in a matrix structure: Applications Engineers, Applied AI/ML Scientists, Data and Platform Engineers, and selected product engineers. Set technical direction, sequence the work, remove blockers.
  • Operate as a dual hat - project manager and product manager - running execution while shaping the product intuition for what to build next.
  • Stay hands-on-keyboard where it matters. Debug a model, restructure a data pipeline, prototype a workflow integration.
  • Embrace co-engineering: work side-by-side with customer engineers on use case development, including at customer sites where required.
  • Partner with the GTM team on new program engagement and account growth.
  • Navigate compliance: ITAR/EAR, CMMC, DFARS, and FedRAMP awareness in delivery planning and customer dialogue.
  • Bring market and customer signal back to Product and Research, shaping Luminary's roadmap for defense-specific requirements including security, compliance, and certification.

WHAT YOU BRING
  • 5-10 years of experience in a technical role in defense, government R&D, prime contractor engineering, or defense-adjacent enterprise software. Principal-level candidates have an extensive track record in defense.
  • Multi-physics fluency across defense engineering disciplines: structural mechanics, aeroelasticity, thermal-structural analysis, propulsion, signal integrity, electromagnetics, or multi-physics simulation.
  • U.S. Person required; active or obtainable Secret/TS-SCI clearance preferred.
  • Familiarity with government contracting, ITAR/EAR, and defense acquisition frameworks.
  • Strong hands-on engineering chops - Python, scripting, simulation tools, and AI/ML workflows.
  • Working knowledge of AI/ML applied to engineering - surrogate modeling, neural operators, physics-informed ML, structural digital twins.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams without direct authority.
  • Product instinct and customer-facing presence; comfortable with chief engineers, program managers, and government technical leadership.
  • Self-starter, persistent through iteration, willing to travel 10-25% to customer sites.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
  • Prior experience at prime contractors (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense, Raytheon/RTX, General Dynamics, L3Harris) or defense labs (DARPA, AFRL, NRL, Sandia, Los Alamos).
  • Active security clearance.
  • Experience with digital twin programs for airframe, propulsion, or fleet health management applications.
  • Track record of deploying ML or simulation tooling into program environments under compliance constraints.

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