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CDAO - Enterprise AI - Director, Autonomy Division

Application Deadline: 1 September 2026

Department: Enterprise - Autonomy

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Arlington, VA

Description

Job Title: Director, Autonomy Division

JOA: CDAO-2026-000111

Pay Scale: $139,395-$197,200

Open Date: 11 August 2026

Close Date: 1 September 2026

About the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office

The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) mission is to accelerate the adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) across the Department of War (DoW). The CDAO works across the Military Departments and Services, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Office of the Secretary of War (OSW), and other DoW Components to design, develop, field, and scale technologies, capabilities, strategies, policies, and other guidance related to data, analytics, and AI in support of DoW's warfighting and business functions, including responding to crises and emerging challenges with state of the art digital solutions.

The CDAO has three broad goals of enabling, speeding, and scaling adoption of AI in the DoW. Rapid and scalable adoption of AI is a critical capability for DoW support in national security, and the CDAO executes that strategy. The CDAO's role in facilitating the rapid adoption of frontier AI and autonomy will enable the DoW's other objectives by informing future investments into policies, partnership, and infrastructure, enabling the adoption of AI at scale throughout the department.

Adversaries collectively produce millions of unmanned systems (UxS) each year across all domains. While global military unmanned systems production has skyrocketed over the last three years, the United States has been slow to field these capabilities at scale. The Department of War (DoW) is moving at speed to bolster the U.S. drone manufacturing base, arm combat units with low-cost unmanned systems, and training the Joint Force to fight and win with these capabilities.

As the Director, Autonomy Division within CDAO's Enterprise Directorate, your mission is to deliver the digital capabilities that make rapid autonomy development and deployment possible, enabling the deployment of highly effective, safe, and reliable autonomous systems in days or weeks, rather than years.

This position is covered by the Department of War (DoW) Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo). The position is located in Washington, DC. The pay plan and broadband level for this role is NH-0340-04, which is equivalent to the GS-14/15 grade level.

This role will close for submissions at 11:59pm on September 1st, 2026.

What you'll do here:

• Division Leadership & Strategic Alignment: Lead the CDAO’s Autonomy Division, defining the strategic roadmap for digital infrastructure and software capabilities that enable rapid autonomy development across the Joint Force. Align the division’s objectives with Direct Reporting Program Manager for Unmanned Systems and broader DoW warfighting concepts.
• High-Level Stakeholder Integration: Coordinate with the Services, Military Departments, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)), and other UxS stakeholders to ensure synchronized joint capability.
• Commercial & Industrial Base Acceleration: Partner with DIU and commercial industry to rapidly deliver autonomous platforms and capabilities to the DoW. Accelerate the transition of cutting-edge commercial technology, including AI, navigation algorithms, and other technologies, into DoW autonomy programs.
• Budgetary & Programmatic Execution: Strategically direct and plan programmatic funding lines, program elements (PEs), and budget submissions for the Autonomy Division, utilizing rapid acquisition pathways to optimize cost, schedule, and technical performance.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Candidate is encouraged to provide e-portfolio, project samples, Github, etc. to their submission package.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration
• This position is subject to provisions of the WHS/OSW Priority Placement Program (please see details below)
• A three-year trial period may be required if not previously completed a trial or probationary period in the excepted or competitive service
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program.
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
• We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
• Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives may be authorized based on the availability of funds.
• This position requires a Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance.
• If you are a veteran claiming veteran's preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.
• This position may require work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or mandatory overtime.
• This position may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station via military or commercial aircraft.

Priority Placement Program Details

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. https://acpol2.army.mil/chra_dodea/PPP_MSP_self_certification_checklist.pdf

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. https://www.dcpas.osd.mil/sites/default/files/military_reserve_and_guard_tech_ppp_self_cert_checklist.pdf

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. https://www.dcpas.osd.mil/sites/default/files/military_reserve_and_guard_disability_ppp_self_cert_checklist.pdf

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. https://www.dcpas.osd.mil/sites/default/files/retained_grade_ppp_self_cert_checklist.pdf