The question isn’t whether AI and automation are changing how we deliver mission systems—it’s whether your team has the leadership to manage the transition without breaking what already works. I’m seeing more searches for technical executives who can stand up new capabilities while keeping legacy systems running and the clearances current. That’s a narrow gate.
The real constraint isn’t the technology. It’s finding someone who’s done it before, earned the trust of both the program office and the engineering floor, and can recruit in a market where every cleared DevSecOps lead has three offers. If you’re waiting for a perfect résumé to appear on a job board, you’re already behind. Passive candidates with that track record don’t apply—they take calls from people they trust.