Subject Matter Expert Defense R&D
Arlington, VAFull-time$160–220K/yrPosted 1mo agoStill listed today
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is recruiting subject matter experts across defense research and development technology domains. The role supports office leadership and advises senior Department of War leaders on strategic direction, modernization priorities, and capability gaps. It also contributes to technology roadmaps, program analysis, technical evaluations, requirements development, and transition planning in support of national defense modernization efforts.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Engineering & Analysis, and Training.
Responsibilities
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is recruiting for multiple SMEs in R&D fields including communications technologies, microelectronics, RF engineering, and cryptography. Working on the Department of War critical technology areas offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment at the forefront of advancing national defense capabilities in areas such as Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Applied AI, Scaled Hypersonics, and more. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the Department’s most critical modernization efforts. This project requires a high level of professionalism and a commitment to shaping the future of national security capabilities.
As a Subject Matter Expert for Defense R&D you will have the opportunity to do the following:
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Support the office leadership as a subject matter expert in your technology domain.
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Advise senior DoW leadership on strategic direction, technology modernization priorities, and emerging capability gaps relevant to the portfolio.
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Develop technology roadmaps, strategic assessments, presentations, and executive-level products to support modernization initiatives and investment planning.
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Coordinate and engage with the RDT&E community including government laboratories, industry, academia, FFRDCs, UARCs, and international partners.
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Analyze and track technical programs across the Department; assist in technical evaluations, requirements development, and transition planning.
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Prepare briefings, reports, white papers, and other business and technical products in support of senior leadership decision-making.
Qualifications
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12 years of experience in the Scientific, Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation sector for Industry, Academia, or Government relevant to the technical focus of the applicable office.
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MS in a relevant hard science or engineering discipline (e.g., Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science).
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A higher degree may be substituted for years of experience
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Demonstrated experience supporting the DoW RDT&E community and working with senior technical and acquisition stakeholders.
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Expertise in one or more of the following technology domains: communications, microelectronics, RF engineering, cryptography, space technology, cyberspace operations, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, directed energy, battlespace awareness, electronic warfare
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Must have a current and active TS clearance with SCI eligibility
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U.S. Citizenship Required for the purposes of obtaining/holding a U.S. security clearance.
Pay Transparency Statement AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee-owners. The salary range for this position is USD $160,000.00/Yr. - USD $220,000/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance. EEO Statement EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status
How this job compares
Set against the 963 open Subject Matter Expert jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$160–220K/yr
- Virginia median$127–200K/yr76 salary ranges
- US median$105–180K/yr459 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $190K, is 16% above the Virginia median midpoint ($164K) — in the top quarter of Subject Matter Expert salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 168 open Subject Matter Expert jobs in Virginia and 963 across the US. 14% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 12 years of experience — more than three in four Subject Matter Expert postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 847 postings).
- Education
- 495 of the 963 open Subject Matter Expert jobs (51%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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