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Microelectronics Manager

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Summary

The Policy & Capabilities (PC) Directorate ensures the IC is best postured for the threats and challenges of an uncertain future, through strategy, policy, and capabilities development. PC is comprised of the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and Policy Strategy and Accountability (PSA) Office.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2026 to 04/23/2026
Salary
$121,785 - $187,093 per year

Not applicable for detailees

Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
McLean, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-12931953-DNI/PC
Control number
864322100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Internal to an Agency = Open to current permanent ODNI employees Federal Employees = This detail opportunity is for current competitive and excepted service employees only. If you are not a current federal civilian employee you will not be eligible for this position. ODNI Joint Duty Assignments do not apply to members of the Military service or contractors. Applicants from federal agencies may be considered for this position as a reimbursable detailee, if endorsed by the employing agency.

Duties

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ODNI's Policy and Capabilities (P&C) Directorate is squarely focused on winning the geostrategic competition to secure America's future. P&C establishes the IC's strategic roadmap, develops requisite IC policies, and drives technology capabilities in alignment with national priorities. Within P&C, the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) leads DNI-directed, results-oriented campaigns in key contested areas, including Mission Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced Compute, and Space & Sensors.

These campaigns run from 18-36 months and are focused on establishing multi-agency capabilities that will transform the intelligence community (IC). The ideal candidate will apply detailed understanding of microelectronics design, manufacturing, use, and reverse engineering to advise ODNI, IC element, and interagency partners on current trends and emerging opportunities in support of a high-visibility Intelligence Community acquisition program. Applicants must have expert knowledge of Western and non-Western microelectronics manufacturing capabilities and be able to advise policy makers and senior decision makers on complex, technical issues.

Advise policy makers and senior decision makers on complex technical issues to enable informed decisions supporting a high-visibility multi-agency acquisition program.

Engage with industry counterparts to understand current developments and emerging trends.

Analyze, interpret, and assess information from industry to advise government counterparts on microelectronics acquisition and exploitation programs.

Develop, plan, and coordinate the acquisition and exploitation of foreign microelectronics.

Write and coordinate assessments of the capabilities of foreign microelectronics.

Develop test plans according to industry and military specifications.

Develop and sustain professional networks across the IC and in operational and analytic communities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a current permanent ODNI employee OR must be a current permanent Federal employee with supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment (JDA). JDA applicants must be currently at the grade level specified in the advertisement. No temporary promotion opportunities will be granted for this position. The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Joint Duty applicants may be considered for this position as a reimbursable detailee, if endorsed by the employing agency. Joint Duty applicants must have a current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph or have the ability to obtain one. The ODNI does not conduct polygraphs or provide security clearances for detailees.

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

  1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
  2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
  3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
  4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Qualifications

Demonstrated knowledge of concepts, theories, and methods for designing, analyzing, testing, and integrating electrical and communications systems.

Designing analog and digital circuits (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs, PCBs).

Use modeling/simulation to evaluate designs.

Extensive knowledge of Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) design.

Extensive experience organizing and managing their own projects or the projects of small teams.

Familiarity with basic electronic components such as ASICs, PCBs, microcontrollers, FPGAs, etc.

Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for ASIC and/or PCB design.

Demonstrated understanding and development of assembly specifications in accordance with industry standards.

Experience with application of 2D/3D imaging for hardware analysis.

Demonstrated ability to understand and synthesize new scientific and technical advances from a range of technical disciplines into policy or investment recommendations that will impact mission.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or Materials Science.

Desired Requirements:

Extensive knowledge of Register Transfer Level (RTL) design including Verilog and VHDL.

Extensive knowledge of Digital/Analog Logic design/simulation, functional verification, Design For Test (DFT), testability analysis.

Extensive experience reverse engineering firmware or software.

Extensive experience in Information Assurance analysis or implementation.

Demonstrated understanding of the basic concepts of cryptography and cryptographic systems.

Demonstrated understanding of the basics of computer networking and low-level protocols.

Experience with embedded or operating system level programming.

Education

Bachelor's degree.

Additional information

JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL

Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview.

SALARY DETERMINATION

A current Federal Government employee, selected for this position, will be assigned to the position at their current grade and salary.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The ODNI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Reasonable Accommodations Officer by classified email at dni_reasonable_accommodation_wma@cia.ic.gov, by unclassified email at DNI_DRA@dni.gov, by telephone at (703)275-3900 or by FAX at (703)275-1217. Your request for reasonable accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS EMAIL IS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS ONLY.

The ODNI is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you are among the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.



Office of the Director of National Intelligence

You can help protect the nation at ODNI by working in an environment that provides our nation's leaders with intelligence they require to make decisions and protect the nation. We are integral to forging partnerships and building trust between all 18 intelligence agencies from the Central Intelligence Agency to the Office of Naval Intelligence. Come be a part of the team that ensures our nation's leaders have the intelligence information they require to make the decisions necessary to keep the nation safe.

Agency contact information

Vacancy Team ODNI
Email
Vacancies@odni.gov
Address
POLICY AND CAPABILITIES
Director Of National Intelligence
Washington, DC 20511
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of the Director of National Intelligence, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.odni.gov/index.php/careers

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