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Innovation Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Practice Innovation Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site

$22.75 - $28.50/hr

Practice Innovation Specialist Cooley is seeking a Practice Innovation Specialist to join the Innovation team. Position summary : As a leading technology law firm, Cooley is determined to become a ...

We are extremely proud of our legacy of excellence and constantly work to fulfill our mission to "protect people, enhance lives, and preserve the planet." What do our Innovation/Utility specialists ...

We are extremely proud of our legacy of excellence and constantly work to fulfill our mission to "protect people, enhance lives, and preserve the planet." What do our Innovation/Utility specialists ...

Innovation Technician

Sterling, VA · On-site

$17 - $23/hr

We are extremely proud of our legacy of excellence and constantly work to fulfill our mission to "protect people, enhance lives, and preserve the planet." What do our Innovation/Utility specialists ...

Overview We are seeking a hands-on, creative, and technically strong AI Innovation Engineer to support our client delivery teams in bringing modern AI solutions to life within public-sector ...

AI Innovation Fellow

Washington, DC · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

About ClearPath, Inc ClearPath's mission is to accelerate American innovation to reduce global energy emissions. To advance that mission, we develop cutting-edge policy solutions on clean energy and ...

Overview We are seeking a hands-on, creative, and technically strong AI Innovation Engineer to support our client delivery teams in bringing modern AI solutions to life within public-sector ...

We are seeking a hands-on, creative, and technically strong AI Innovation Engineer to support our client delivery teams in bringing modern AI solutions to life within public-sector organizations.

AI Innovation Fellow

Washington, DC · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

They are seeking an AI Innovation Fellow to help adopt AI and emerging technologies within the federal government, ensuring efficient use and scaling of AI systems that improve processes and create ...

Bowhead seeks a Technology Innovation Analyst to join our team in providing program management support in a broad range of services to the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) and ...

Showing results 41-60

Innovation information

See Reston, VA salary details

$11.5K

$101.7K

$120.9K

How much do innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for innovation in Reston, VA is $101,708.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,000.00 and $108,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are careers in innovation?

Careers in innovation involve developing new products, services, or processes to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Roles may include innovation manager, R&D specialist, or product designer, often requiring skills in creativity, problem-solving, and familiarity with industry tools or methodologies like design thinking or agile. These positions are common in technology, manufacturing, and business sectors seeking continuous improvement.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an innovation manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Innovation Manager, you need a strong background in business strategy, creativity, and project management, often supported by a degree in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with innovation frameworks (such as Design Thinking), data analysis tools, and experience with project management platforms like Jira or Trello are commonly required. Exceptional communication, adaptability, and leadership abilities help drive cross-functional collaboration and foster a culture of innovation. These skills are crucial for identifying opportunities, executing new ideas, and maintaining a competitive edge in rapidly changing markets.

What is an innovation job?

Innovation jobs focus on creating, developing, and implementing new ideas, products, services, or processes within an organization. Professionals in these roles help companies stay competitive by identifying opportunities for improvement and driving change. Common positions include Innovation Manager, Product Innovation Specialist, and Innovation Consultant. These jobs often require creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work across different teams.

What is the difference between Innovation vs Product Manager?

AspectInnovationProduct Manager
Primary FocusDeveloping new ideas, concepts, and solutionsOverseeing product development, lifecycle, and strategy
Required SkillsCreativity, problem-solving, market researchProject management, communication, market analysis
Work EnvironmentR&D teams, startups, innovation labsCross-functional teams, tech companies, consumer goods
Industry UsageInnovation departments, R&D unitsProduct development teams, tech firms

Innovation focuses on generating new ideas and solutions, often working in R&D settings, while Product Managers oversee the development and lifecycle of products, ensuring market fit and success. Both roles require collaboration but differ in their core objectives and skill sets.

How does an innovation professional typically collaborate with other departments within an organization?

Innovation professionals frequently work cross-functionally, partnering with teams such as marketing, product development, engineering, and operations to identify opportunities and develop new solutions. They often facilitate brainstorming sessions, gather input from diverse stakeholders, and ensure alignment on project goals. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as they must bridge gaps between creative ideas and practical implementation, ensuring successful integration of innovations into existing business processes.
What are the most commonly searched types of Innovation jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Innovation jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Innovation jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Innovation job openings:
Infographic showing various Innovation job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,708 per year, or $48.9 per hour.

Director, Technology & Innovation

Electrosoft

Reston, VA

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Location: Reston, VA

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Technology & Innovation leads the company's technology innovation strategy and serves as the champion for artificial intelligence, software innovation, and emerging technologies with a focus on cybersecurity. This role is responsible for identifying market opportunities, developing AI-enabled solutions, creating proprietary intellectual property (IP), and transforming innovative concepts into practical capabilities that deliver measurable value to the company and its customers.

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise. The successful candidate will be comfortable discussing technology strategy with executives, engaging customers to understand mission challenges, and working directly with engineers and developers to prototype and deploy innovative solutions.

Success in this role will be measured by the creation of innovative AI-enabled solutions, proprietary intellectual property, operational efficiencies, and new business opportunities that generate measurable value for the company and its customers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technology Innovation and AI Leadership

  • Develop and execute the company's technology and AI innovation roadmap.
  • Identify emerging technologies and market trends that can create competitive advantage.
  • Lead the conception, design, and development of AI-enabled solutions for both internal operations and customer missions.
  • Create proprietary tools, accelerators, frameworks, and intellectual property that differentiate the company in the federal marketplace.
  • Evaluate and apply technologies such as Generative AI, Agentic AI, Machine Learning, Intelligent Automation, and Advanced Analytics.

Business Growth and Customer Engagement

  • Serve as a trusted technology advisor to customers, partners, and internal stakeholders.
  • Support business development efforts through innovative solutioning, technical presentations, and demonstrations.
  • Contribute to proposals, white papers, and growth initiatives by developing compelling technical discriminators.

Internal Transformation

  • Lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency through AI, automation, and digital transformation.
  • Partner with leaders across the organization to identify and implement technology-driven improvements.
  • Promote responsible, secure, and effective adoption of AI throughout the enterprise.

Software Development and Systems Integration

  • Provide technical leadership for software development and technology modernization initiatives.
  • Lead prototype, proof-of-concept, and pilot projects to rapidly evaluate new technologies.
  • Oversee integration of AI capabilities with enterprise applications, cybersecurity tools, cloud platforms, and customer environments.
  • Collaborate with technical teams to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable, and aligned with customer requirements.

REQUIREMENTS 

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in technology innovation, cybersecurity, software engineering, or related technical disciplines.
  • Strong understanding of AI technologies, software development, systems integration, cloud platforms, modern application architectures, and operational cybersecurity environments.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting an operational cybersecurity environment in a technical capacity, such as Security Operations Center (SOC) operations, cyber defense, incident response, vulnerability management, threat hunting, security engineering, security automation, compliance monitoring, or cybersecurity tool administration.
  • Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Agentic AI, Microsoft Copilot technologies, Azure AI Services, OpenAI, or similar platforms.
  • Excellent communication, leadership, collaboration, and customer engagement skills.
  • Hands-on software development experience in Python, C#, Java, JavaScript, or similar programming languages highly desirable.
  • Experience supporting Federal Government customers is highly desirable.