Technical Operations Lead

LMI seeks a Technical Operations Lead to support a Department of War mission partner J3 with direct integration and operational employment of autonomous systems across combatant command missions, with emphasis on USINDOPACOM and high-end conflict scenarios. The lead coordinates platforms, payloads, autonomy software, data, communications, testing, exercises, and fielding across government and industry teams. The ideal candidate brings the operational credibility and technical fluency to align diverse stakeholders, resolve integration barriers, and deliver mission-relevant capability at speed.

LMI is a new breed of digital solutions provider dedicated to accelerating government impact with innovation and speed. Investing in technology and prototypes ahead of need, LMI brings commercial-grade platforms and mission-ready AI to federal agencies at commercial speed.

Leveraging our mission-ready technology and solutions, proven expertise in federal deployment, and strategic relationships, we enhance outcomes for the government efficiently and effectively. With a focus on agility and collaboration, LMI serves the defense, space, healthcare, and energy sectors, helping agencies navigate complexity and outpace change. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, LMI is committed to delivering impactful results that strengthen missions and drive lasting value.

This position requires on-site support in Tampa, Florida and an active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. The position requires periodic travel to supported commands, operational units, exercises, test events, and industry locations.

Lead the J3 technical operations portfolio for autonomous systems integration, experimentation, deployment, and operational employment.
• Develop integrated operational and technical roadmaps that align mission needs, platform capabilities, payloads, autonomy software, command and control, communications, data, and test activities.
• Direct coordination across combatant commands, Military Services, operational units, program offices, test organizations, intelligence elements, and industry partners.
• Integrate autonomous capabilities into targeting cycles, kill chains, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance workflows, exercises, and contingency plans.
• Oversee demonstrations, technical tests, operational assessments, exercises, and fielding activities from planning through after-action analysis.
• Establish clear governance, priorities, decision rights, schedules, readiness criteria, and risk management processes across concurrent lines of effort.
• Resolve cross-organizational dependencies and elevate decisions, constraints, and risks early with recommended courses of action.
• Translate senior leader intent and operational problem statements into executable technical objectives and integration tasks.
• Guide development of concepts of operation, mission threads, tactics, techniques, procedures, test strategies, deployment plans, and sustainment handoffs.
• Provide senior leader briefings on capability readiness, operational relevance, integration status, risks, and recommended actions.
• Mentor technical integrators and specialists and enforce disciplined execution across the team.
• Maintain awareness of global autonomy developments and recommend opportunities to improve operational advantage.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, aviation, computer science, systems integration, program management, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in technical operations, systems integration, autonomous systems, uncrewed systems, command and control, test and evaluation, or operational capability development.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical and operational teams in a Department of Defense or national security environment.
• Strong understanding of autonomous platforms, payloads, mission software, data, communications, command and control, and enterprise-to-edge integration.
• Experience planning and executing demonstrations, exercises, test events, operational assessments, deployments, or fielding activities.
• Experience supporting combatant command operations, targeting, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, fires, mission command, or related workflows.
• Ability to lead through influence across organizations with different authorities, priorities, and technical approaches.
• Exceptional executive briefing, written communication, facilitation, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel regularly and support field activities in operational and test environments.

• Experience supporting USINDOPACOM, the Joint Staff J3, another combatant command, or a Special Operations Forces organization.
• Experience transitioning emerging autonomy or uncrewed-system capabilities from experimentation into operational use.
• Knowledge of Department of Defense rapid acquisition, airworthiness, range safety, spectrum, cybersecurity, and operational approval processes.
• Project Management Professional, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, systems engineering, test and evaluation, Agile, or Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certification.

Target salary range is $174,349.80 - $193,722.00

Disclaimer: The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation. Individual salaries are determined by various factors including, but not limited to location, internal equity, business considerations, client contract requirements, and candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, skills, and security clearances.

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Applicants must meet eligibility requirements for a U.S. Government security clearance. Only US Citizens are eligible for a security clearance. For this position, LMI will only consider applicants with security clearances or applicants who are eligible for security clearances, due to the nature of the work.