Innovation Fellowship

Dare to Disrupt: Turn “What If” Into Reality

Who We Are

If you believe we can accelerate past the perceived limits of science, technology, and human potential, you’ve already got something in common with those of us here at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Since 1958, we’ve been operating at the edges of what’s known, turning radical ideas into real-world capabilities. From transforming online communications to revolutionizing prosthetics, the agency’s work has altered the trajectory of modern life. These were deliberate acts of intellectual audacity, crafted at the intersection of research excellence, strategic foresight, and national purpose.

DARPA convenes the most brilliant scientists, engineers, and experts from academia, industry, and government to confront the hardest problems — those with no clear solutions, only bold hypotheses and the will to explore them. Behind every breakthrough is a thinker who refused to accept limits. The question is not “ can it be done ?” The question is “ will you be the one who does it?”

What is the DARPA Innovation Fellowship?

• An accelerated, highly selective program that starts with a one-year appointment, with the possibility of an additional one-year extension, open to college graduates and military professionals with STEM degrees.
• Mentorship in action, living and breathing disruptive innovation, risk tolerance, and bold thinking, plus having access and autonomy to make the biggest bets in an environment that operates at lightning speed.
• An opportunity to partner with intellectually audacious colleagues, from research labs, the private sector, the military, and other government agencies, to push the boundaries of science and engineering, ensuring technological superiority and strategic resilience for the warfighter.
• A prestigious opportunity to accelerate your career. The fellows benefit from DARPA’s extensive network and access to elite institutions, leading technology companies, start-ups, and DARPA’s own alumni network. It is an unparalleled launchpad for exceptional post-program opportunities.

What You’ll Do

• Work with leading experts in their respective fields, with the opportunity to be guided by and learn directly from our architects of disruption — DARPA program managers and other unconventional innovators who redefine the boundaries of national security.
• Develop ideas and collaborate with teams that profoundly transform the battlefields of today and create game-changing military technologies to win on the battlefields of the future.
• Collaborate with DARPA's Science and Engineering Technical Advisors (SETAs) to help program managers (PMs) deliver and shape their programs.
• Work closely with your mentor PM to develop compelling proposals, refine research concepts, and lead performer interactions for your independent seedling portfolio.
• Manage relationships with top-tier research teams from academia, industry, and government to drive breakthrough technologies for national defense.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate in a STEM discipline
• Unrelenting curiosity and a hunger to support the development of game-changing technology for national security
• Evidence-based technical excellence, independence, and leadership abilities demonstrated on your resume or CV
• Risk tolerance and demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit
• Speed of execution, deep analytic and critical thinking capabilities, and stellar communication skills

Ready to join an organization where failure isn’t feared, and success changes the world? One where you can unlock your full potential with exclusive mentorship?

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and are expected to work on-site in Arlington, VA. The ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required.

Visit darpa.mil/careers to learn more about all the ways you can work with us.