Chief Technical Officer, Berkeley Air & Space Center; U

Departmental Overview

Berkeley Air & Space Center is a groundbreaking new innovation ecosystem and proposed 36‑acre campus at NASA Research Park where academia, government mission agencies, global industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and international partners come together to accelerate breakthroughs in air and space systems. The project will focus on becoming a world‑class hub for dual‑use innovation—uniting cutting‑edge research with real‑world capability delivery at one of the most strategically important federal research sites in the country, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The Chief Technical Officer is the senior technical executive for Berkeley Air & Space Center and the primary architect of its research and capability‑development agenda. Reporting to the Associate Provost, the CTO leads BSC’s technical strategy, champions interdisciplinary research, and develops large, multi‑institution, multi‑million‑dollar programs aligned with UC Berkeley strengths, NASA Ames mission domains, and national priorities.

• Strategic Leadership – Lead BSC's technical strategy and long‑term capability planning. Develop high‑value, multi‑institution federal proposals. Initiate new research thrusts aligned with UC Berkeley and NASA Ames priorities. Represent the Associate Provost in senior technical engagements.
• Analysis and Management – Conduct technical and policy analyses to inform BSC investments. Build and maintain technical roadmaps and performance metrics. Oversee research administration, budget development, and post‑award operations. Evaluate technical feasibility and alignment of proposed initiatives.
• Communications and Outreach – Serve as BSC's authoritative technical spokesperson. Brief senior government, academic and industry leaders. Lead technical content development for communications, workshops and symposia. Coordinate research‑focused events and interdisciplinary engagements.
• External Technical Leadership – Represent UC Berkeley at national forums, federal briefings and advisory panels. Maintain relationships with senior leaders at DARPA, NASA, DoD and national laboratories. Evaluate BSC's national visibility in dual‑use innovation and advanced capability development.

• 12–15 years (or equivalent) of interdisciplinary professional experience in Deep Tech with strong business acumen, specifically including experience with national security stakeholders
• Direct experience at DARPA, NASA, DoD, DOE/NNSA or a major national laboratory

Demonstrated ability to design and win large, complex, multi‑million‑dollar federal research programs.

• Experience in public speaking, and leading executive‑level meetings, webinars, workshops, etc., and able to represent BSC internally and externally with superior interpersonal skills
• Track record in overseeing and leading individuals and teams (of at least 10 people) to smooth execution of multiple initiatives and projects
• Recognized technical leader with the ability to command the respect of UC Berkeley faculty and senior government sponsors
• Strong collaborator with experience building and working with ecosystems and partner organizations
• Exceptional communication skills and technical judgment
• Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary teams and large research portfolios
• A high‑energy, proactive leadership style and the ability to execute in fast‑paced environments
• Doctorate in a related area (engineering, computer science, aerospace, physics, materials science, robotics, etc.) and / or equivalent experience training

This is a full‑time, career position that is eligible for full UC benefits. This position may be eligible for hybrid work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with the supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and may be subject to change.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California’s Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for…