At DARPA, we believe that service to the warfighter is a sacred responsibility.
We value our partnership with the military, recognizing that their unparalleled insight shapes our mission. The operational experience and deep understanding of national security challenges offered by our colleagues in uniform ensures that our technological advancements evolve into breakthrough capabilities.
Through close collaboration, we accelerate the development of revolutionary solutions that strengthen our nation's security, maintain technological superiority, and impose surprise.
Opportunities for Military Professionals:
Special Assistants / Service Operational Liaisons
- Advise the Agency Director and support Agency Leadership on critical national security initiatives facing the DoW. Foster a strategic partnership between their Service's Senior leaders and DARPA.
- Identify operational challenges facing joint warfighters and develop transition paths for advanced technologies to mitigate them
- Grade: O-6: Army (1), Marine Corps (1), Navy (1), Air Force (1), SOCOM (1)
- Grade: O-5: Space Force (1)
- Assignment: Two to three years (tour in JDAL billet)
Community: Government and Military
Military Program Managers
- Experienced military professionals with a research and development background ready to immediately leverage their deep technical knowledge and military networks to drive the creation of groundbreaking programs
- Grade: O-4 - O-6
- Assignment: Two years with the possibility of extension
Become a Program Manager
Military Academic Fellows
- Centrally selected military officers (by their Service) who think strategically and foster collaboration across government to enhance warfighter capabilities
- Grade: O-4 - O-5: Army (2), Marine Corps (2), Air Force (1 via the IDE program), Space Force (1)
- Assignment: One academic year
- Legislative Affairs fellowship (for Air Force Legislative Fellows): Shorter term occasionally in the Fall/Winter
Service Chiefs Fellowship Program (SCFP)
- Highly competitive program that allows selected military personnel to collaborate with Joint and Interagency peers. Participants gain firsthand exposure to cutting-edge scientific advancements and disruptive technology programs that challenge conventional military paradigms.
- Grade: Mid-career professionals (O-4/5; GS-13/14; CW4/5; E-8/9). STEM graduate degree and deployment history desired
- Assignment: 12-week competitively selected temporary duty (TDY)
Service Chiefs
DARPA Innovation Fellows (Military)
- In this entrepreneurial environment, you will be encouraged to pitch groundbreaking ideas to solve hard problems and spearhead high-impact research initiatives while gaining unparalleled exposure to revolutionary science and technology.
- Grade: Active-duty officers with a STEM degree and 5-10 years of operational experience
- Assignment: One-year appointment with the possibility an additional one-year extension. Also open to civilians.
DARPA Innovation Fellowship
