Chief Scientist

Are you ready to join an innovative company with over 100 years of excellence and a steadfast commitment to ethical business practices? Amentum is a trusted partner to United States government agencies, allied governments, and corporations worldwide supporting critical programs across a broad range of domains. We are hiring a Chief Engineer to support key programs at NSWC Crane. This is a high-impact role that requires a mix of strategic planning, technical know-how, and hands-on management to deliver results while spearheading cutting-edge solutions.

Amentum is seeking a Chief Scientist to lead scientific and technical direction for research and development efforts supporting Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UxS) programs. This individual will serve as the senior technical leadership guiding innovation strategy, ensuring technical rigor across research initiatives, and acting as the primary scientific liaison between Amentum and government stakeholders. The Chief Scientist will shape the technical roadmap for autonomous and unmanned systems operating in contested environments, spanning all domains such as air, sea, and ground.

Responsibilities:

• Provide overall technical leadership and strategic direction for C-UxS research and development programs, ensuring alignment with customer objectives and emerging DoD priorities.
• Serve as the principal technical advisor to the Program Manager and government customer on scientific matters, technology maturation, and R&D investment decisions.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend emerging technologies relevant to unmanned systems survivability, autonomy, resilience, and operations in contested/denied environments.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers across relevant technical domains.
• Oversee technical quality and rigor of research products, including experimental design, modeling and simulation, testing methodologies, and data analysis.
• Author and review technical papers, white papers, proposals, and briefings for government stakeholders, senior leadership, and external technical communities.
• Represent Amentum at technical interchange meetings, industry conferences, and government reviews.
• Collaborate with government program staff, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to ensure technical coherence across the broader research portfolio.
• Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies in coordination with the Program Manager and government customer
• Support development of statements of work, technical proposals, and cost estimates for new task orders and research initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with relevant government research standards, safety protocols, and data/IP handling requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 12 years of experience in the field or in a related area.
• Advanced scientific expertise in C-UxS-relevant domains such as RF sensing, EW, directed energy, or autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated leadership of advanced DoD R&D programs.
• Experience translating research outcomes into system requirements and acquisition documentation.
• Strong understanding of DoD acquisition processes and technology readiness level (TRL) frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior government and industry stakeholders.
• Active Secret US Government Clearance. Note: US Citizenship is required to obtain a Secret Clearance.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D.
• Active Top-Secret US Government Clearance. Note: US Citizenship is required to obtain a Top- Secret Clearance.
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

       

Compensation Details:

$140,000 - $240,000

       

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

 

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

• Educational reimbursement

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Tax-saving options

• Disability and life insurance

• Pet insurance

 

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

       

Original Posting:

09/11/2026 - Until Filled

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

       

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed,  marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.