PROGRAM EXECUTIVE, AEGIS-BASED DEFENSE SYSTEMS Job in Dahlgren, VA

Vacancy No. MDA-25-12784741-SES Department Missile Defense Agency
Salary $184,363.00 to $217,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 8/20/2025 Close Date 9/2/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Dahlgren, VA


Summary

  • This is a Senior Executive Service Tier II position. Salaries for Tier II positions range from $184,363 - $217,000.
  • This position is in the Senior Executive Service, a small elite group of top government leaders. SES members possess a diverse portfolio of experiences including strong skills to lead across organizations.
  • As an executive, you will influence the direction of innovation and transformation of the federal government and lead the next generation of public servants.

Duties

The incumbent serves as the Program Executive for MDA Aegis-Based Defense, developing strategic integrated strategies, initiating, planning, and directing complex efforts aligned with DOD, DoN, MDA, and Congressional goals. They oversee advanced MDS initiatives, managing a workforce of over 600 personnel, including civilian, military, contractors, and interagency staff, while supervising an annual budget exceeding $2 billion.

As the Commander for USN PD452, a NAVSEA field activity, the incumbent integrates approximately 90 personnel into a Joint Program Office with MDA Aegis-Based Defense. Responsibilities include supervisory functions such as hiring, dismissals, performance evaluations, and aligning NAVSEA policies with MDA standards.

They lead the policy, budgeting, planning, and execution of Aegis-Based Defense products and services, ensuring integration with USN and MDA practices. This includes providing leadership across program management, Navy missions, corporate operations, program protection, and physical security. The incumbent directs strategic program management policy and innovation, delivering on legislative initiatives, resource management, and outreach.

Additionally, the incumbent prescribes and oversees the Missile Defense Acquisition and Contracting Supplement (MDACS) to FAR and DFARS, serving as MDA's subject matter expert on maritime missile defense systems. They represent Aegis-Based Defense in engagements with key stakeholders, including DOD, academia, private industry, and international entities. Participation in high-level meetings and task forces ensures effective internal and joint efforts.

The incumbent is responsible for Aegis-Based Defense's strategic vision, fostering ongoing assessments and directing efforts to meet goals. They manage resource allocation, ensuring personnel, funding, facilities, and equipment are available in a constrained fiscal environment. Their managerial expertise spans planning, programming, budgeting, contracting, and financial management, ensuring successful program execution.

Strategic planning includes analyzing the feasibility of proposed plans, translating them into actionable projects, and securing resources to execute the Aegis-Based Defense mission. The incumbent evaluates cutting-edge, high-risk programs, requiring advanced technical and engineering expertise to address undefined challenges. They provide authoritative recommendations, often leveraging unconventional approaches to resolve unprecedented problems.

The incumbent's leadership significantly impacts MDA's mission, influencing DOD, allied nations, and defense-related industries. They develop innovative management concepts for acquisition programs, logistics, and operational strategies, guiding multidisciplinary teams in an exceptionally complex organization. Their work demands expertise in scientific and technical principles, fostering relationships with internal and external agencies, including international stakeholders.

Their responsibilities include supervising major MDA programs and acquisition projects that affect agency-wide and national interests. They coordinate interoperability tests, modeling, simulation development, and system-level engineering functions to support rapid prototyping and incremental fielding of missile defense systems. These initiatives influence major technical, programmatic, and policy decisions by MDA, USN leadership, and Combatant Commanders.

The incumbent also manages foreign military sales programs, negotiating with senior foreign officials to implement and report MDA and USN initiatives. Their supervisory role involves decisions that impact organizational programs and personnel, ensuring alignment with long-term strategic goals. Their analyses, presentations, and reports significantly influence program development, policy establishment, and cross-agency operations supporting MDS initiatives.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • Veteran preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain Special Sensitive/Top Secret SCI clearance
  • Designated and/or random drug testing is required
  • Mobility Agreement: All newly appointed Career SES leaders must sign the Reassignment Rights obligations Agreement as a condition of appointment into the SES.
  • Probationary Period: You will serve a one-year Senior Executive Service (SES) probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
  • Financial Disclosure: Senior Executives are required to comply with the provisions of the Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, which requires the submission of a financial disclosure statement (OGE-278), upon assuming an SES position.
  • Senior Executives are required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment," (OF 306), prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background check.
  • Overtime: None
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Tour of Duty: Set Schedule
  • Telework: Not Eligible

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) and TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs):

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs). However, to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the ECQS and TQS within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed and will be disqualified.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs):
1.
Demonstrated experience and expertise in the full spectrum of acquisition management to include technology development, product development, production, test and evaluation, program assessments, operations and sustainment for large-scale, complex weapons and combat systems programs, and the planning, programming, budgeting and execution process for such programs.
2. Demonstrated ability to successfully lead large, diverse research and development organizations and to collaborate with high-level officials, Industry and international partners on Aegis-Based Defense matters to achieve consensus on goals and objectives.

DoD Joint Enterprise-Wide Experience Statement:

In addition, DoD requires an Enterprise Perspective. This individual must have the ability to apply a broad point of view and an awareness and understanding of individual or organizational responsibilities in relation to DoD or government-wide strategic priorities is required. Executives must demonstrate the ability to work with internal and external partners to support national security objectives. This perspective is typically gained through a variety of diverse work experiences. A separate narrative statement is not required. This information should be within the resume.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this position.

Additional information

Background Investigation - This position is designated as critical sensitive and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish eligibility for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearances, to include managing compartmentalized missile and radar programs.

Financial Disclosure - Senior Executives are required to comply with the provisions of the Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, which requires the submission of a financial disclosure statement {SF-278), upon assuming an SES position. This must be submitted annually and upon termination of employment.

REEMPLOYED ANNUITANTS: https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25- V300.pdf

Acquisition Certification -

  1. This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP). Unless specially waived by the appropriate official, the following are statutory mandated requirements:
    1. Selectee must execute, as a condition appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal Service in the position for at least three years. In signing such agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.

This CAP requires Program Management, Advanced acquisition certification. The incumbent has 48 months to achieve this certification.
  1. The incumbent must complete 80 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every two years.

Travel to national and international locations may be required.

Applications MUST be submitted through USAJobs.

Submit resume and all other required documents online by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, for the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience and education as it relates to the fundamental competencies, identified below. Your application will be evaluated by an Executive Evaluation Panel rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may be contacted for an interview and to provide reference checks. The Office of the Secretary of Defense Executive Resources Board will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume: Your resume must address your qualifications for the position and cannot exceed two pages.

Applicants typically provide the following information:

  • Full name, email and mailing address, and day and evening telephone numbers
  • Educational information including the name, city, and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type of any degree received
  • Information about your paid and nonpaid work experience related to this position including: job title, duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, duration of employment, and salary
  • Information about honors, awards, and special accomplishments
  • Resumes should NOT include: Classified information/SSN/Photo of yourself/personal information (gender, religion, affiliation etc/Encrypted digitally signed docs). Resumes with this prohibited information will be automatically ineligible for consideration
  • If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be referred for consideration.
2. You do not need to submit a separate statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), Technical Qualifications (TQs) or the DoD Joint Enterprise-Wide Experience Statement, but you must show how you meet these requirements within the resume narrative. Resumes cannot exceed two pages.

3. Standard Form (SF) 50: If you are a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit your last or most recent SF-50. Current and former career SES or equivalent members must provide an SF-50 showing their status or reinstatement eligibility.

DO NOT submit additional information (i.e. awards, appraisals, pages in excess of the limit for the resume).

How to Apply

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

Applications mailed using government postage or through an internal federal government mail system will not be considered.

Once your application is received we will conduct a review of your application package to ensure all required documents have been received. All applications that have all required documents will be forwarded to management for panel review and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of the announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.

Agency contact information

DE Applicant Inquires
Address
Missile Defense Agency
Bldg 5222 Martin Rd
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
US

Next steps

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.