Director, Spectrum Dominance Division

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nation’s preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development to advance national security. VTNSI grew from the Hume Center, launched in 2010 with an endowment from Ted and Karyn Hume.

VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research, empowering the next generation of experts, and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. It brings together exceptional interdisciplinary faculty, unique research infrastructure, and deep partnerships with industry and government sponsors to execute impactful research and development.

Today VTNSI encompasses three research divisions—Intelligent Systems, Mission Systems, and Spectrum Dominance—as well as the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology, which cultivates the next generation of national security leaders by developing and executing research and experiential learning opportunities to engage students.

• Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated record of research leadership, excellence, and impact in areas relevant to radio frequency communications.
• Track record of building and growing research portfolios, establishing long‑term sponsor partnerships, and securing competitive funding.
• Proven success leading sponsored research programs as Principal Investigator, including delivery of results to defense, intelligence, or other national security sponsors.
• U.S. citizenship and active secret clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills.

• Extensive, progressively responsible, research leadership experience in government, industry, academia, or non‑profit settings.
• Experience mentoring and developing faculty, researchers, and students in interdisciplinary environments.
• Recognized reputation for integrity, innovation, and thought leadership within the national security research community.
• Experience managing budgets, employee levels of effort, and adequate staffing across multiple programs.
• Strong connections across the national security research community, including government agencies, industry, and academia.
• Capability to perform hands‑on mentorship for both students and faculty and execution of programs and leading by example.
• Experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in technical disciplines.
• Experience working with graduate students in completing their degree requirements.

Starting salary: $250,000; commensurate with experience.

Hours per week: 40.

Due to the nature of the Institute's work, candidates must be U.S. citizens and must have the ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact NSI Human Resources at nsihr during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.