Growth Lead

Forterra; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Paid time off 20 days/year

Parental leave 7 weeks

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Forterra is seeking a driven Growth Lead focused on go-to-market strategies to scale defense autonomy solutions across DoW programs.

You will drive growth by engaging mission-aligned commands, crafting market-entry strategies, and turning pilots into enduring, funded programs that enhance readiness and survivability for joint and coalition forces. This role requires travel up to 50% and a strong, entrepreneurial mindset.

Qualifications

• Experience in Dept. of War components command or joint logistics / operations.
• Defense policy, acquisition, or program management experience within DoW or other government agencies.
• Delivering growth outcomes for defense products, especially in early-stage or dual-use tech environments.
• Proven success developing and executing go-to-market strategies for emerging defense technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to turn pilot programs into enduring operational capabilities with DoW customers.
• Strong understanding of mission priorities, including distributed operations, logistics resilience, and coalition integration.
• A strong sense of urgency and ownership, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and drive outcomes in ambiguous settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies with mission team leadership to identify growth opportunities within craft market-entry strategies.
• Drive growth outcomes by cultivating relationships with key stakeholders across commands and program offices; scale pilots into deployments.
• Lead cross-functional teams to align customer needs, regional mission priorities, and Forterra’s solutions.
• Expand Forterra’s footprint by embedding technology into ongoing and emerging defense programs across the Department of War.
• Build and scale new business lines and grow teams to support regional expansion.

Skills

Defense sector experience

GTM strategies

Stakeholder management

Growth leadership

Pilot-to-program scaling

Mission-focused mindset

Urgency & ownership

Job description

About Forterra

Forterra is a leading provider of autonomous systems for ground-based movement in the working world. Amongst some of the earliest innovators in the field of driverless technology, Forterra is focused on building systems that protect front-line soldiers and enable civilian workers in our industrial base. Forterra is the go-to provider of ground autonomy solutions for the U.S. Department of War, which harnesses the technology for asymmetric warfare in critical conditions.

About the Role

We are seeking a driven, entrepreneurial Growth Lead focused on go-to-market strategies and drive meaningful growth outcomes for Forterra’s defense autonomy solutions. This role will be central to scaling Forterra’s presence across related defense organizations, growing initial engagements into enduring, impactful programs that strengthen operational capability and resilience across Department of War.

You will work closely with mission-aligned commands, program offices, and industry partners to convert pilot efforts into sustained programs that enhance readiness and survivability for joint and coalition forces. The Growth Lead will connect Forterra’s technical capabilities to pressing mission needs, ensuring our ground autonomy systems directly support operations in dispersed and contested environments.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies: Work with mission team leadership to identify growth opportunities within craft market-entry strategies, and position Forterra’s technology as essential for regional defense programs.
• Drive growth outcomes: Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders across component commands, and supporting program offices. Build consensus around pilot programs and convert them into larger-scale deployments that advance mission outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional teams: Coordinate with engineering, product, and business development teams to ensure alignment between customer needs, regional mission priorities, and Forterra’s solutions.
• Expand Forterra’s footprint: Identify opportunities to embed Forterra’s technology into ongoing and emerging defense programs across the Dept. of War and propose innovative solutions for new challenges.
• Build and scale business lines: As you achieve growth milestones, lead the development of new business areas and grow teams to support continued expansion across the region.

Minimum Qualifications

We value experience, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial mindset. The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in one or more of the following:
• Dept. of War component command, or joint logistics / operations roles
• Defense policy, acquisition, or program management within DoW or other government agencies
• Delivering growth outcomes for defense products, particularly in early-stage or dual-use technology environments
• Proven success developing and executing go-to-market strategies for emerging defense technologies
• Demonstrated ability to turn pilot programs into enduring operational capabilities with DoW customers
• Strong understanding of mission priorities, including distributed operations, logistics resilience, and coalition integration
• A strong sense of urgency and ownership, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and drive outcomes in ambiguous settings

Why Forterra?

At Forterra, you’ll have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology with the potential to transform defense operations and protect lives. You’ll join a team that values curiosity, urgency, and collaboration, and you’ll play a critical role in shaping the future of autonomy in national security.

Travel Requirements

Up to 50% travel may be required for this role.

The salary range for this role is an estimate and is based on a wide variety of compensation factors. The salary offered to candidates will vary based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) relevant work experience, education, specialized training, critical expertise, training, and more. Equity in Forterra is included in most of our full-time, high-demand roles and is therefore considered part of Forterra’s overall compensation package. In addition to base salary and equity, Forterra offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&DD, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY – This position may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.

Forterra is an equal-opportunity employer, providing and promoting equal employment opportunity in all personnel practices. Forterrans are unique, talented individuals who are united through a shared passion to deliver autonomous systems that enable national resilience and a robust supply chain.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any factor, including veteran and disability status, and criminal history, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

Forterra is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.