Powerful things are happening in Dahlgren, Virginia. An hour south of Washington, DC, Booz Allen’s team of experts work with Department of War (DOW) clients to conceptualize, develop, and deploy combat and weapon systems, directed energy capabilities, sensor systems, and other emerging technologies. 

But the mission-forward work is not the only reason to join us in Dahlgren. We interviewed a few of our Dahlgren teammates about what they enjoy most about their work. Read on for their responses. 

The Dahlgren team’s groundbreaking work means our team stays on the leading edge of the industry. 

“One of the major contributors to our ability to attract and retain our engineers is the nature of the work we do. Conceptualizing an idea, seeing it through the entirety of the developmental lifecycle, and then placing it in the hands of the nation's warfighters provides a level of personal achievement that’s hard to find in other markets,” says James Brenkert, Dahlgren’s engineering and science lead.

In Dahlgren, there’s an interesting mission for you—no matter your interests and skillset. Our work includes mechanical engineering for high-power radio frequency (HPRF); designing, building, and integrating laser and electro-optical systems; systems engineering; architecture development for real-world requirements and threat information; and much more.

It’s simple for Michael Haxton, program manager and account lead for Joint Warfare Analysis Center. “Someone is safer as a result of the work we’re doing in Dahlgren," he says. 

The work is truly rewarding: our team of analytics professionals, cyber specialists, and engineers support DOW clients to create  solutions that directly impact the warfighter. 

While the scale of the work is grand, the team in Dahlgren is down to earth. “We have a small business feel with the benefit of Booz Allen resources across a global enterprise,” says James. 

Local engineers can leverage other teams’ capabilities and weave them into current missions to bolster existing developments, such as new/novel model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering processes and tools, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and virtual/augmented reality (AR/VR). 

Plus, having large-business resources in areas like benefits and human resources, proposal and market support, and a massive library of internal professional development opportunities means the team has everything needed for career development and support. 

Our office also boasts recent updates that include three fully equipped engineering labs: a software lab with various tools and operating systems; a hardware lab for printed circuit board design and fabrication as well as 3D printing capabilities; and a Faraday cage to block electromagnetic radiation while conducting component testing. Each of our team members enjoys access to the cutting-edge tools they need to do their best work.

Booz Allen takes a “people-first” approach that emphasizes flexibility. In Dahlgren, the team enjoys a hybrid work model, which allows for a combination of remote and in-person work. 

Because of this flexibility, Dahlgren employees enjoy the benefits of living near the DC metro area—without the higher cost of living or a challenging commute. 

In Dahlgren, you won’t be filling a role—you’ll be taking the next step in your career. Booz Allen’s growth mindset emphasizes upskilling and reskilling, and there’s an array of resources that make this possible. These include tuition reimbursement, company-sponsored training, opportunities to show thought leadership through conferences and events, and more.  

Dahlgren’s cutting-edge defense work offers specific growth opportunities. 

“By virtue of the client spaces we are in direct support of, combined with the true research and development focus they maintain, we’re pushing the boundaries of engineering,” says Jim Potter, principal market lead for Dahlgren. “The size and breadth of our portfolio allow our workforce to engage in challenging work while pushing new ideas forward. This is what keeps people excited about coming to work at Dahlgren every single day.”