Director of Innovation

We are seeking a visionary Director to drive innovation, technology strategy, and internal R&D initiatives across our organization. As a key member of the leadership team, you will shape the company's technical future by fostering a culture of innovation, developing cutting-edge solutions, and ensuring our capabilities stay ahead of emerging trends in defense IT services.

In this role, you will create and lead an innovation framework that transitions employee-driven ideas into tangible concepts, prototypes, and solutions. You will work closely with engineering, cybersecurity, cloud, and program management teams to integrate new technologies into our offerings, ensuring we maintain our competitive edge in serving the U.S. government.

If you are a strategic leader who thrives on transforming ideas into real-world solutions and driving technology innovation, we want you to join us.

Essential Functions

Technology and Innovation Strategy:

• Develop and implement a company-wide innovation strategy to move ideas from concept to execution.
• Identify emerging technologies and assess their potential for integration into defense IT services.

Innovation Pipeline and Internal R&D:

• Establish a structured process for employees to contribute technical innovations and receive support in developing them.
• Oversee the funding, development, and testing of prototypes for new solutions.
• Partner with SMEs in software engineering, network systems, cloud computing, and cybersecurity to refine ideas into actionable projects.

Organizational Leadership and Culture Building:

• Foster a culture of innovation by engaging employees in R&D, training, and technical collaboration.
• Launch initiatives such as internal hackathons, technical forums, and proof-of-concept challenges to encourage engagement.
• Serve as a mentor and technical advisor to engineering and program teams on emerging technologies.

Business Growth and Competitive Differentiation:

• Identify technology differentiators that enhance contract proposals and program execution.
• Align internal R&D with future contract opportunities to enhance our competitive advantage.
• Work with business development (BD) and proposal teams to shape the company's innovation narrative in bids.

Customer and Market Engagement:

• Establish relationships with DoD research labs, industry partners, and government technology offices to stay ahead of technology trends.
• Lead discussions with government stakeholders on innovation initiatives and technical roadmaps.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of emerging IT trends in government and defense, including AI/ML, cybersecurity, digital twins, automation, and cloud computing.
• Ability to develop and execute an enterprise-wide technology strategy aligned with DoD and Navy modernization priorities.
• Expertise in software development, network systems, systems engineering, and DevSecOps in secure environments.
• Skilled in identifying, developing, and implementing R&D projects that align with future contract opportunities.
• Ability to translate technical advancements into business value, enhancing competitiveness in proposals and contract execution.
• Ability to foster a culture of technical excellence and innovation across a billable workforce
• Strong ability to mentor technical teams, providing guidance on R&D best practices and solution development.
• Skilled in launching and managing innovation programs, internal technical forums, and prototype development efforts.
• Understanding of DoD cybersecurity policies, zero-trust architecture, and risk management frameworks (RMF, CMMC, NIST 800-171).

Education and Experience

• U.S. Citizenship required due to contract requirements
• Active Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one); Top Secret/SCI clearance preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in technology leadership, R&D management, or defense IT services.
• Proven track record of leading innovation initiatives and developing emerging technology solutions in a government contracting environment.
• Experience securing and managing government-funded R&D projects (SBIRs, OTAs, IRAD, etc.) is a plus.
• Strong business development experience, working alongside proposal teams to integrate innovative solutions into competitive bids.
• Strong track record in leadership development, succession planning, and organizational growth.
• Industry certifications such as CISSP, AWS Solutions Architect, PMP, or DoD 8570 compliance certifications.
• Any relevant cloud, cybersecurity, or emerging technology certifications related to DoD operations.

Want to hear more? Read on to see what our Team Members say about their experience:

"Atlas Tech has the culture, trust, and fairness that you expect of the best of communities. I feel lucky to be part of their amazing journey of growth as a standout organization." - Syed

"You are not just a number here at Atlas. I have been with Atlas for over 13 years now I can say that Atlas displays a genuine interest in its employees. This is evidenced in its commitment to mentoring every employee and providing educational paths for each employee's personal and professional growth within the company." - Ian

Atlas Tech is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and respected.

Accessibility & Accommodations

Atlas Tech strives to make our website, www.atlas-tech.com, accessible to all users. If you need assistance completing the application process or require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at hr.recruiter@atlas-tech.com.

This contact information is designated for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of an application. Atlas Tech is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Atlas Tech offers a competitive salary, generous benefits package, and an opportunity to make a positive impact in your own community.