Project Lead (Defense)

TL;DR

Project Lead (Defense): Spearheading problem-sourcing operations for the national Hacking for Defense program with an accent on bridging the gap between military requirements and entrepreneurial solutions. Focus on managing complex government stakeholder relationships, supervising innovation analyst teams, and ensuring high-quality data validation for defense innovation databases.

Location: Must be based in or within commuting distance to Arlington, VA. This is a hybrid role requiring at least three days per week in the office.

Company

hirify.global is a consulting firm focused on delivering measurable innovation outcomes for government partners and the defense ecosystem.

What you will do

• Serve as the primary liaison for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to ensure strategic alignment and program delivery.
• Supervise and mentor a team of innovation analysts responsible for problem discovery and research.
• Oversee the integrity and validation of sourced problem data within government databases.
• Travel to military bases and national laboratories to identify and scope high-impact real-world problems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional contractor teams to ensure unified program execution.
• Manage contract tasks, track deliverables, and drive continuous process improvement.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• 10+ years of experience with at least 3–5 years working closely with the DoD, national laboratories, or defense innovation entities.
• 3+ years of direct supervisory experience managing teams or project workflows.
• Proven track record of managing government clients and navigating military hierarchies.
• Ability to translate dense military requirements into lean, commercial-style problem statements.
• Strong data management skills with experience in quality control and database workflows.

Nice to have

• Experience with Lean Startup methodologies or the Mission Model Canvas.
• Previous exposure to the Hacking for Defense (H4D) curriculum.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work on high-impact national security and innovation projects.
• Collaborative environment working alongside government, academic, and private sector partners.
• Commitment to enabling innovation at scale within the federal enterprise.