Research Faculty , Intelligence Community Portfolio

Job Description

Based on the foundation of the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology, Virginia Tech launched the Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) in September 2021. With a presence in Blacksburg and the Washington, D.C., metro area, the institute aspires to be the nation's preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development, and will advance national security in pursuit of a secure America.

VTNSI is seeking to hire multiple research faculty, with particular emphasis on mid‑career engineers and scientists and senior subject matter experts who bring strong technical depth combined with program development and sponsor engagement experience.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated experience in the execution and integration of research that spans technical domains relevant to intelligence missions. These positions emphasize technical integration, mission alignment, and high‑quality research execution, while also contributing to sponsor engagement, portfolio growth, and program development.

As members of VTNSI’s research faculty, individuals in these roles will serve as senior technical contributors and integrators in areas such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); geospatial intelligence; electronic warfare (EW); open‑source intelligence (OSINT); cryptography; RF spectrum applications; and related cross‑domain capabilities supporting intelligence community missions.

These positions are responsible for developing and executing classified research within specific areas of expertise while contributing to VTNSI’s broader Intelligence Community (IC) portfolio through multidisciplinary collaboration and sponsor engagement. The role requires strong coordination across technical teams and alignment with operational contexts, sponsor priorities, and mission outcomes.

These opportunities are particularly well suited for individuals with strong cross‑domain technical backgrounds who excel at translating mission needs into high‑impact sponsored research efforts and who are interested in growing enduring partnerships across the intelligence community within a leading national security research institute.

Job duties will be adjusted depending on the rank and level of the position hired.

This is an open‑rank search. Final rank and job duties will be determined based on the candidate’s background, skills and experience.

These positions are expected to focus primarily on classified and mission‑aligned sponsored research, with opportunities to contribute to…