Mission Lead (Defense)

TL;DR

Mission Lead (Defense/AI): Leading engagements with government stakeholders to identify mission problems and scale AI-driven defense capabilities with an accent on Navy acquisition and operational adoption. Focus on translating operational challenges into technical narratives and driving the transition of prototypes into funded programs of record.

Location: Must be based in San Diego, California (required for access to secure/classified environments)

Salary: $150,000–$170,000 + equity

Company

Defense technology company building agentic AI to deter adversaries and support decision-makers in the Indo-Pacific.

What you will do

• Manage trusted relationships with Navy program offices, PAEs, SYSCOMs, and operational commands.
• Identify capability gaps and develop new mission opportunities across the Navy enterprise.
• Lead customer-facing engagements, including mission discovery, capability demonstrations, and strategic account planning.
• Translate operational challenges and technical requirements into actionable solutions using Vannevar's software.
• Navigate Navy acquisition, budgeting, and transition-to-program pathways.
• Collaborate with internal product and engineering teams to ensure customer feedback informs the product roadmap.

Requirements

• U.S. Persons status with at least a current Top Secret clearance is required.
• Must be based in San Diego to work in secure or classified environments.
• 5+ years of experience supporting the Department of the Navy, defense acquisition, or national security programs.
• Deep familiarity with Navy organizations such as PEOs, NAVWAR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA, or NIWC.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes across large government organizations.
• Willingness to travel frequently in support of customer engagements and operational activities.

Nice to have

• Track record of transitioning new technologies from prototyping into funded programs of record.
• Experience acting as a translator between operators, acquisition professionals, and engineers.
• Technical fluency in evaluating and deploying software-enabled capabilities in operational environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Unlimited PTO including competitive vacation and holiday schedules.
• Monthly stipends for mental health, wellness, fitness, and home office setup.
• Fully paid parental leave and child/pet care reimbursement during travel.
• Salary top-up during military reserve duty.