The Civil-Military Innovation Institute, Inc. (CMI2) is seeking an Innovation Engineer/DIRT Lab Manager – Fort Huachuca, AZ, to support the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory Catalyst Pathfinder program. This position is a full-time position which reports directly to the CMI2 Deputy Pathfinder Program Manager for Design, Research, Innovation and Technology (DIRT) Labs.
CMI2 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that supports U.S. Department of War (DOW) activities to build a civil-military innovation workforce optimized to advance national security technologies and to align the work of innovators from universities and non-traditional technology companies with the activities of the DOW and public safety communities.
The Pathfinder Program will strategically engage top academic institutions across the nation to team them with Soldiers in small, integrated teams focused on solving technical problems in a highly integrated manner. These projects will yield discoveries & future outcomes, by extracting creativity from warfighters, students & faculty (working together) that have not been exposed to DOW (Army) challenges & problems.
DIRT Labs are rapid prototyping facilities where Soldiers can develop solutions to tactical problems. This position will primarily support software-based solutions and requires a unique blend of technical capability, leadership, coaching, and familiarity with Army enterprise systems such as Vantage, Maven, and related data/AI platforms.
Essential Position Functions
- Guide and coach Soldiers and partners in prototyping, design thinking, innovation and research projects, and other related efforts using makerspace equipment and technologies
- Oversee technical execution of prototypes using Army data platforms, AI/ML tools, and enterprise applications (e.g., Vantage, Maven, related DevSecOps and cloud environments)
- Coach Soldiers to solve problems and improve workflows and outputs within the tools they are provided
- Ensure proper configuration, security, and compliance for lab systems, networks, and development environments in accordance with Army cybersecurity standards
- Mentor and lead a team of engineers, developers, researchers, and UX professionals to promote a culture of experimentation, rapid development, and innovation.
- Prepare technical reports, demos, and briefings for senior Army and ARL personnel.
- Manage lab resources, schedules, and coordination with the larger Pathfinder team, primarily including the other DIRT Lab personnel.
- Promote collaboration across Army innovation ecosystems, including PAEs, CPEs, labs, and operational units.
Minimum Qualifications
- Accredited degree in engineering, computer science, data science, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years of experience in technical research and development (R&D), innovation labs, software development, or systems engineering.
- Prior work in AI/ML development, data engineering, or advanced analytics.
- Demonstrable proficiency with Python, TypeScript, and React or similar systems.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams and manage multiple project lines.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with military stakeholders and senior leaders.
- Familiarity with Army cybersecurity requirements, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), Risk Management Framework (RMF) processes, and secure development methodologies.
- Entrepreneurial mindset – comfort with taking educated risks, excitement to pilot new ideas, research best practices, and reflect on experience for continuous improvement
- Passion and understanding for the Intelligence Community (IC) mission and vision.
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed organization
- Active Top Secret (TS)/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance, or eligibility to obtain and maintain one.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience with Army enterprise data and application ecosystems (e.g., Vantage, Maven, Army cloud environments, DevSecOps pipelines).
- Experience working within or alongside ARL, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs), or operational units.
- Experience deploying or integrating solutions in classified or hybrid‑cloud environments.
- Knowledge of agile development and rapid prototyping practices.
US Citizenship required.
Travel Requirement: 15% (estimated)
Location: Fort Huachuca, AZ
