Legislative and Government Affairs Sr. Director (Defense)

Location: Washington, DC area; in the DC office 3 days a week, with some travel to Austin, Texas. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance are required.

Company

hirify.global is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company developing autonomous orchestration for heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space for defense, intelligence, and commercial applications.

What you will do

• Build and execute legislative and government affairs strategy aligned with company priorities, capture plans, and program growth.
• Develop relationships with Congress, defense-focused committee staff, the Department of Defense, military services, and Executive Branch stakeholders.
• Lead engagement in NDAA and defense appropriations cycles, including report language, plus-ups, and program support.
• Monitor and brief leadership on legislation, budgets, regulations, and policy developments affecting NODA and the defense technology sector.
• Translate NODA’s technology and mission impact into white papers, one-pagers, testimony support, briefings, and other policymaker materials.
• Coordinate Hill visits, demonstrations, industry alliances, external government affairs consultants, and collaboration with Business Development, Capture, and Program teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, or a related field.
• 10+ years of legislative affairs, government relations, or policy experience, including work on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, or in defense-industry government affairs.
• Strong knowledge of the federal legislative and budget process, including NDAA and defense appropriations cycles.
• Established relationships with congressional offices and committee staff, particularly defense-focused committees.
• Understanding of DoD budgeting, requirements, and acquisition processes, including PPBE.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technology to non-technical audiences.
• Working knowledge of the Lobbying Disclosure Act and federal ethics requirements.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to ITAR regulations, together with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Nice to have

• Professional staff experience on HASC, SASC, HAC-D, or SAC-D, or in a DoD legislative affairs office.
• Government affairs experience at a defense technology, aerospace, or venture-backed startup company.
• Familiarity with autonomy, unmanned systems, AI policy, or emerging defense technology.
• Experience securing program funding through authorization or appropriations.
• Familiarity with OTAs, SBIR/STTR, and DIU programs.
• Prior military or government experience and an existing security clearance.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement with three days per week in the Washington, DC office and some travel to Austin, Texas.
• Work on mission-critical autonomy and unmanned-systems technology supporting defense, intelligence, and commercial applications.
• Collaborative, innovation-focused environment with rapid iteration and direct access to executive leadership.
• Opportunity to establish and grow NODA’s government relations function from the ground up.
• Potential growth path to Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy.