Capture Manager

Doodle Labs; Germany (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Doodle Labs is seeking a Capture Manager to win strategically important government contracts by leading discovery, strategy, and execution across international markets. You will manage prime relationships, navigate procurement requirements, and position Doodle Labs as a strategic partner rather than a vendor.

The role combines procurement expertise with business development, building customer relationships that surface follow-on opportunities and align with the customer’s long-term strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience leading high-stakes government capture programs.
• Strong knowledge of international procurement and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven track record at director level winning major defense contracts.
• Fluency in prime contractor flow-down obligations and risk mitigation.
• Ability to build consultative relationships with customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute capture strategy and competitive positioning.
• Navigate procurement processes and regulatory requirements across international markets.
• Manage prime contractor relationships and flow-down requirements for compliance.
• Lead capture team execution with schedules, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment.
• Engage customer stakeholders at strategic and technical levels to build trust.
• Identify follow-on opportunities aligned with customer strategy and roadmap.
• Coordinate with leadership to ensure alignment through contract award.

Skills

Government capture

Proposal management

Business development

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

International markets

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Education

Advanced degree in business or engineering

Job description

About Doodle Labs

Doodle Labs builds the connectivity backbone of the autonomous systems revolution — resilient wireless mesh networks that let drones, robots, and unmanned platforms operate reliably in the world's most demanding environments. We sit at the intersection of defense, robotics, and next-generation autonomy, powering the machines that are changing how militaries, first responders, and industries operate in the field. Our core purpose is simple: connect anyone and anything, at any time, in any place.

About Doodle Labs

Doodle Labs builds the connectivity backbone of the autonomous systems revolution — resilient wireless mesh networks that let drones, robots, and unmanned platforms operate reliably in the world's most demanding environments. We sit at the intersection of defense, robotics, and next-generation autonomy, powering the machines that are changing how militaries, first responders, and industries operate in the field. Our core purpose is simple: connect anyone and anything, at any time, in any place.

For over 25 years, our team has been at the forefront of mesh networking, partnering with leading defense programs, robotics manufacturers, and system integrators worldwide. The work here doesn't sit in a slide deck — it ends up in the field, in the hands of people for whom failure isn't an option.

About The Role

The Capture Manager is a director-level role focused on winning strategically important government contracts through competitive capture and bid strategy. You'll lead the capture process from discovery through contract award, navigating government procurement requirements, managing prime contractor relationships, and positioning Doodle Labs for success.

This role combines deep government procurement expertise with business development acumen. While your primary mandate is winning the contract, you'll also develop customer relationships that naturally surface follow‑on opportunities—understanding the customer's long‑term strategy and positioning Doodle Labs as a strategic partner, not just a vendor.

This is an opportunity to lead one of Doodle Labs' most strategically important pursuits and establish the foundation for expanded presence in a key international market.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute capture strategy and competitive positioning
• Navigate government procurement processes and regulatory requirements across international markets
• Manage prime contractor relationships and flow-down requirements, ensuring legal and operational compliance
• Lead capture team execution, managing schedules, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment
• Engage customer stakeholders at strategic and technical levels, building trust and understanding customer priorities
• Develop customer intelligence and identify follow‑on opportunities that align with customer strategy and Doodle Labs' roadmap
• Coordinate with internal leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and strategic coherence through contract award

What Success Looks Like

• Contract awarded with strong customer alignment and clear expectations for post‑award execution
• Capture team fully mobilized and positioned with compelling value proposition and competitive differentiation
• Strong cross‑functional alignment and stakeholder buy‑in across internal teams and customer leadership
• Clear pipeline of follow‑on opportunities and customer insights positioned for future growth
• Doodle Labs established as a trusted strategic partner with the customer, not a transactional vendor

Who You Are

• 10+ years of progressive experience in government capture, procurement management, and/or proposal management
• Proven track record at director level winning high‑stakes government contracts at major defense primes
• Deep understanding of international government procurement environments and regulatory frameworks
• Legal and contract fluency: you understand prime contractor flow‑down obligations, compliance requirements, and risk mitigation
• Business development experience: you understand customer strategy, can develop consultative relationships, and naturally identify expansion opportunities
• Politically astute: you navigate complex stakeholder dynamics and understand how government customers think and make decisions
• Operationally excellent: you manage complex pursuits with multiple workstreams, competing priorities, and external stakeholders
• Comfortable working in international markets and embedded with international teams
• Entrepreneurial: you thrive in a scale‑up environment where capture wins directly shape the trajectory of the company

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, wireless networking, or defense electronics
• Experience working with OEMs or embedded systems/hardware products
• Program management background or experience with capture‑to‑execution transitions
• Fluency in European defense procurement or experience with international government agencies
• Advanced degree in business, engineering, or related field

Why Join Doodle Labs

• Lead and win a strategically important government contract for a cutting‑edge technology company
• Work on technology powering the future of autonomous systems and defense communications
• Build strategic customer relationships that naturally expand into new opportunitiesCollaborate with engineers and innovators building industry‑leading connectivity solutions
• Make a meaningful impact in a fast‑growing company shaping the next generation of robotics and autonomous systems
• Expand Doodle Labs' presence in key international markets during a critical growth phase
• Competitive compensation package and the opportunity to grow with a scale‑up building transformational technology

Travel Expectations

This role requires 20–30% travel for customer meetings, capture activities, stakeholder engagement, and team collaboration across multiple locations.