CDAO - Enterprise - Program Manager, Autonomy

Application Deadline: 27 May 2026

Department: Enterprise - Frontier AI

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Arlington, VA

Description

Job Title: Program Manager, AutonomyJOA: CDAO-2026-000106
Pay Scale:  $139,395-$191,900
Open Date: 20 May 2026
Close Date: 27 May 2026 
About the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office
The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) mission is to accelerate the adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) across the Department of Defense (DoD). The CDAO works across the Military Departments and Services, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands (CCMDs), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and other DoD Components to design, develop, field, and scale technologies, capabilities, strategies, policies, and other guidance related to data, analytics, and AI in support of DoD's warfighting and business functions, including responding to crises and emerging challenges with state of the art digital solutions. 
The CDAO has three broad goals of enabling, speeding, and scaling adoption of AI in the DoD. Rapid and scalable adoption of AI is a critical capability for DoD support in national security, and the CDAO executes that strategy. The CDAO’s role in facilitating the rapid adoption of frontier AI and autonomy will enable the DoD’s other objectives by informing future investments into policies, partnership, and infrastructure, enabling the adoption of AI at scale throughout the department.
The incumbent serves as a manager responsible for establishing the structure of programs focused on autonomy, including the management of complex systems engineering and software development processes. As a senior advisor, you will facilitate collaboration across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) on programs related to AI, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems. This is aimed at expediting the development, testing, and operational deployment of safe, reliable, and effective autonomous capabilities.
As the Program Manager for Autonomy, you will lead critical programs focused on developing and integrating cutting-edge autonomous systems into DoD operations. This role involves working closely with leading defense contractors, robotics companies, and DoD operational users to prototype, test, and field autonomous platforms and evaluate their effectiveness in realistic, structured experiments.
This position is covered by the Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo). The position is located in Washington, DC. The pay plan and broadband level for this role is NH-0800/1500-04, which is equivalent to the GS-14/15 grade level. This position does have an education requirement – details can be found here.
This role will close for submissions at 11:59pm on May 27th, 2025. 

What you'll do here:

• Lead the development, integration, and fielding of autonomous systems, including both hardware and software, into critical DoD missions and operational environments.
• Manage, budget, plan, and execute a large-scale systems development program involving multiple industry and government teams.
• Provide subject matter expertise to inform best practices, guidance, and policy on the DoD’s use of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS).
• Provide subject matter expertise to advise DoD partners on the application of policy, standards, and systems engineering principles to ensure the successful development, testing, evaluation, and fielding of autonomous systems.
• Work across a diverse and cross-functional team of engineers (software, hardware, systems), operational end-users, and DoD partners to deliver capability that directly supports the warfighter.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required. 
• Candidate is encouraged to provide e-portfolio, project samples, Github, etc. to their submission package. 
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration  
• This position is subject to provisions of the WHS/OSD Priority Placement Program (please see details below) 
• Applicants for employment are covered by federal laws and Presidential Executive Orders designed to safeguard federal employees and job applicants from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including