Deployment Strategist (AI)

Location: Must be based in the Los Angeles area, with on-site or customer-facing work three days per week; proximity to Los Angeles AFB is essential. Travel 20–30% of the time is required.

Salary: $203,200–$254,000 USD per year, plus potential equity and benefits.

Company

AI company developing reliable data, infrastructure, and agentic systems for governments and enterprises, including national defense and space missions.

What you will do

• Own the full capture lifecycle for Space Systems Command opportunities, from pipeline development and requirements shaping through contract award and revenue recognition.
• Draft white papers and SBIR/OTA responses, lead complex proposals, architect deal structures, and navigate space acquisition processes.
• Transition prototypes into scaled Program of Record deployments across Space Force program executive offices.
• Lead account strategy, renewals, follow-on funding, and expansion across Space Systems Command programs.
• Co-design agentic AI workflows with technical teams and operators, translating mission problems into implementable technical requirements.
• Manage systems integrators and space primes, including subcontracting and teaming negotiations.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in space operations, government acquisitions, complex enterprise IT sales, or defense business development.
• Track record of closing and implementing multi-year deals and securing budget line items.
• Deep knowledge of Space Force modernization, including space domain awareness, ground and command-and-control modernization, resilient architectures, AI/ML, computer vision, and autonomy.
• Existing relationships across Space Systems Command, the Space Force enterprise, major space primes, and systems integrators.
• Active Secret clearance required; TS/SCI strongly preferred.
• BS/BA required; a technical degree or MBA is preferred.

Nice to have

• Prior Space Force or Air Force space experience.
• Technical degree or MBA.
• TS/SCI clearance.

Culture & Benefits

• Individual contributor role with substantial account leadership and executive-level responsibility.
• Mission-driven work applying AI to national defense and allied interests.
• Health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits, learning and development stipend, and generous paid time off.
• Potential equity compensation and commuter stipend for eligible roles.