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Director, Spectrum Dominance Division
Job no: 536375
Work type: Research Faculty
Senior management: Vice President for Research
Department: VTNSI
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Executive / Director / Management, Research / Scientific
Job Description
The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nation's preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development to advance national security. The Institute grew from the Hume Center, which was launched in 2010 thanks to an endowment from Ted and Karyn Hume.
VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research, empowering the next generation of experts, and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. We bring together exceptional interdisciplinary faculty, unique research infrastructure, and deep partnerships with industry and government sponsors to execute impactful research and development.
Today VTNSI encompasses three research divisions - Intelligent Systems, Mission Systems, and Spectrum Dominance - as well as the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology, which aims to cultivate the next generation of national security leaders by developing and executing research and experiential learning opportunities to engage students.
The Director of the Spectrum Dominance Division is responsible for overall leadership of division personnel, students, programs, and research direction, and is a member of VTNSI's executive leadership team. The position is principally responsible for sustaining current research and experiential learning programs, and growing additional programs in coordination with institute leadership, division researchers, and partners from industry and government.
The following are the specific responsibilities for this position: (1) identify and impact new funding opportunities as early in the program development cycle as possible (2) work with institute faculty and the executive leadership team to develop strategies for sustainment and growth of research and experiential learning programs, along with agency specific engagement strategies (3) serve as principal and co-principal investigator on proposals and awarded grants and contracts (4) support student mentorship and research on awarded programs by conducting basic and applied research, authoring technical documents and presentations, and publishing peer-reviewed papers (5) support faculty mentorship on business development and program execution (6) have ultimate responsibility for the division budget, to include ensuring that overhead labor expenditures and operating costs are within budget (7) manage research activities of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other research faculty for which the individual serves as principal investigator; and (8) serve as the line supervisor for researchers in the division.
Required Qualifications
• Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated record of research leadership, excellence, and impact in areas relevant to radio frequency communications.
• Track record of building and growing research portfolios, establishing long-term sponsor partnerships, and securing competitive funding.
• Proven success leading sponsored research programs as Principal Investigator, including delivery of results to defense, intelligence, or other national security sponsors.
• U.S. citizenship and active secret clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Clearance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Extensive, progressively responsible, research leadership experience in government, industry, academia, or non-profit settings.
• Experience mentoring and developing faculty, researchers, and students in interdisciplinary environments.
• Recognized reputation for integrity, innovation, and thought leadership within the national security research community.
• Experience managing budgets, employee levels of effort, and managing adequate staffing across multiple programs.
• Strong connections across the national security research community, including government agencies (e.g., defense and intelligence), industry, and academia.
• Capability to perform hands-on mentorship for both students and faculty and execution of programs and leading by example.
• Experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in technical disciplines.
• Experience working with graduate students in completing their degree requirements.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
Starting at $250,000; Commensurate with Experience
Hours per week
40 hours per week
Review Date
6/5/2026
Additional Information
Due to the nature of the Institute's work, candidates must be US citizens. They must also have the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact NSI Human Resources at nsihr@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: May 13, 2026
Applications close:
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