Research Development Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Core4ce seeks a dynamic Junior Research Scientist to provide engineering, technical, and program management support to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Countering Threats (OASW(CT)) and the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW(R&E)). This position places you at the heart of defense research and development, where you'll help shape technology roadmaps, track critical investments, and support the transition of emerging technologies from laboratories to warfighter.You'll interact daily with senior DoD leadership, Joint Staff, FFRDCs, UARCs, industry partners, Combatant Commands, Military Component acquisition communities, and other federal agencies-building relationships and expertise that will define your career in defense technology.

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside Program Directors and Government Leads to support strategic planning for countering threats technology. You'll help develop, refine, and update CTA technology roadmaps, identify short-term sprint opportunities for rapid development of capability, and assist in crafting strategy documents and implementation plans that guide DoD's technology investments.
• Provide technical assessments of programs, review white papers and research papers, and prepare responses to DoD inquiries. You'll develop presentations and reports for audiences ranging from DoD leadership and Congress to industry and academia. Your work will include developing technical guidance, high-level architecture documentation, policy support materials, and engineering advisory content for emerging technology transition.
• Collect and analyze information on the CTA Defense investment portfolio, workforce capacity, infrastructure, and industry capabilities. You'll deliver quarterly surveys to OSW(CT) leadership, Program Directors, and Program Managers while tracking international partnerships, emerging basic research topics, and adversary activities. Coordination with OUSW(R&E) sub-components, Intelligence Community, and other agencies will be central to your analytical work.
• Consolidate DoW RDT&E investment data into centralized repositories and perform data modeling, multi-source integration, and data architecture development. You'll apply AI and natural language processing analytics to complex datasets, gather stakeholder requirements, and develop decision-ready dashboards providing real-time support to DoW stakeholders through platforms including Advana, Qlik, and DataBricks.
• Support OASW(CT) Program Directors and Government Leads on technology transition to military services and the commercial sector. You'll advise on transition and transfer instruments, identify technology transitions across the Department of War, and develop comprehensive reports for leadership. Your mission support will include data architecture, modeling, analytics, and knowledge management-strategic visualizations, integrated databases, automated data ingestion with quality checks, and user testing.
• Deliver monthly status reports covering technical progress and accomplishments, plans and milestones, risks and mitigation strategies, financial status, and development activities. You'll manage product backlogs in MS Word or JIRA format, develop SharePoint digital solutions, and create user guides that enable stakeholder success.

*This position is designed to be flexible, with responsibilities evolving to meet business needs and enable individual growth.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant science or engineering experience AND 7+ years in Science, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (SRDT&E) experience, OR PhD degree with 7+ years of experience in SRDT&E.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI preferred
• Experience with data architecture, modeling, and analytics platforms. Familiarity with Advana, DataBricks, Qlik, or similar tools. Understanding of DoD RDT&E processes and technology transition pathways. Strong analytical and technical writing capabilities.
• Ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and diverse stakeholders. Strong presentation skills for executive audiences. Self-starter who thrives in fast-paced policy and technology environments

Why Work for Us?

 Core4ce is a team of innovators, self-starters, and critical thinkers-driven by a shared mission to strengthen national security and advance warfighting outcomes.

We offer:

• 401(k) with 100% company match on the first 6% deferred, with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage-employee portion paid 100% by Core4ce
• Unlimited access to training and certifications, with no pre-set cap on eligible professional development
• Tuition assistance for job-related degrees and courses
• Paid parental leave, PTO that grows with tenure, and generous holiday schedules
• Got a big idea? At Core4ce, The Forge gives every employee the chance to propose bold innovations and help bring them to life with internal backing.

Join us to build a career that matters-supported by a company that invests in you.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, veteran status, age, genetic information, or other legally protected status.