Defense Mission Lead

Armaments Research Company; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity Options

401k plan

Employer paid medical, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a Defense Mission Lead to manage program execution for defense customers. This role involves lifecycle management of technical deployments, customer engagement, and collaboration with engineering for successful integration. Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience, a Bachelor's degree, and must be able to travel to customer sites. We offer equity options and medical coverage.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in defense operations or military-focused customer success.
• Experience managing complex deployments in a defense environment.
• Willingness to travel regularly to customer sites.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for defense customers.
• Own and drive program timelines and customer reporting.
• Lead onsite integration of ARC systems with engineering teams.
• Represent ARC at field exercises and technical forums.

Skills

Defense operations knowledge

Technical program management

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Ability to grow business

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

Armaments Research Company (ARC) is a technology company dedicated to bringing real‑time situational awareness and battlefield logistics capabilities to the warfighter. You will be an integral part of the ARC team managing program execution in support of our innovative and powerful IoT devices to enhance national security.

Our core offering is the ARC AI‑Enabled Weapons Sensor (AEWS), which collects and transmits real‑time tactical data to the cloud. This information enables battlefield/tactical awareness and aggregated insights into big data sets that do not exist today. ARC technologies were initially developed in partnership with DARPA and the National Science Foundation and leverage internet‑of‑things (IoT) technology and machine learning to derive actionable insights and transform operational responses. This novel technology will be deployed at scale to enhance safety, decision‑making, and sustainment for the warfighter at the tactical edge.

What You’ll Do

The Defense Mission Lead plays a critical role at the intersection of customer engagement, program delivery, and technical integration. You will act as the face of ARC for key defense customers and ensure successful deployment and sustained operational effectiveness of ARC technologies in the field. This role blends program management, onsite technical oversight, and strategic growth, requiring a unique mix of mission focus, communication skills, and operational acumen.

Role Responsibilities – How You Will Make an Impact

• Serve as the primary point of contact for designated defense customers, managing the full lifecycle of deployments—from planning through sustainment—to ensure alignment with customer priorities, contractual requirements, and company strategic goals.
• Own and drive program timelines, risk mitigation strategies, and customer reporting requirements in coordination with internal cross‑functional teams.
• Support contract execution, including milestone tracking, deliverables management, and compliance with program requirements.
• Lead onsite integration of ARC systems, collaborating with engineering and support teams to ensure successful technical performance.
• Represent ARC at field exercises, testing events, and technical integration forums.
• Translate customer feedback and operational needs into actionable insights for product and engineering teams to inform the product roadmap and feature development.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for follow‑on sales, use‑case expansions, and broader adoption of ARC technologies.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with end users, acquisition officers, and unit‑level leadership to ensure mission alignment and long‑term success.

Relevant Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in defense operations, technical program management, or military‑focused customer success.
• Prior service in the U.S. military or direct support to DoD customers strongly preferred.
• Proven experience managing complex deployments or fielding of technical systems in a defense environment.
• An understanding of defense acquisitions and ability to grow existing business and revenue streams adjacent to existing deployments.
• Experience interfacing with engineers and technical staff to understand and relay technical issues in real time.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a bias for action and ownership.
• Willingness to travel regularly to customer sites, including austere or field‑based locations.
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one.

This position will require access to restricted information and facilities protected under U.S. laws and regulations, including the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on any required authorization to receive access to such restricted information and facilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

Citizenship Verification: This position requires verification of U.S. Citizenship to meet federal government security screening requirements required for this role. The successful candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and otherwise eligible to obtain access to classified information and facilities necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

What We Offer

• Equity Options
• 401k plan
• Employer paid employee medical, dental, and vision coverage

As set forth in Armaments Research Company’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.