Head of DoD Growth

Torchbearers; Washington; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Torchbearers seeks a founding commercial hire to own the 24-month GTM roadmap, secure anchor SOCOM contracts, and build a BD team of 5+. You will drive pricing strategy and directly collaborate with the founders to capture and close pivotal opportunities as the company scales through a $25M–$35M round.

Location-flexible: work from the DC corridor, remote, or West Coast, with occasional travel for field exercises and team syncs.

Qualifications

• Active rolodex across SOCOM/DoD acquisition channels.
• Track record of turning early trials into funded programs for emerging hardware/defense tech.
• Ability to operate seamlessly with technical founders and military operators alike.

Responsibilities

• Own the 24-month GTM roadmap and pricing strategy from day one.
• Close anchor SOCOM contracts and build the BD organization.
• Recruit and lead a 5+ person team as we scale post-round.

Skills

SOCOM/DoD network

Deal closure

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Tired of defense tech BD where the hardware never leaves the lab?

Here, the tech is already deployed in active conflict zones and undergoing live operational testing with Tier-1 defense users.

You won’t be managing someone else's legacy program or waiting on five layers of committee sign-off to pursue an opportunity. You’ll be the founding commercial hire writing the 24-month roadmap, landing the anchor SOCOM contracts, and building your own team of 5+ as we close a $25M–$35M round.

What you get:

• Total commercial ownership: Direct line to the founders to set the go-to-market strategy, pricing, and capture playbook from day one.
• Hardware that actually works: Proven autonomous & detection systems already winning user trust in Europe and US field exercises.
• True scaling upside: Start hands-on closing initial deals, then hire and lead the BD organization over the next 2–3 years.
• Location flexibility: Work from where your network is (DC corridor, remote, or West Coast) with travel for field exercises (OPEXs) and quarterly team syncs.

This is early-stage. There’s no established sales ops machine, RFP library, or playbook handed to you. If you need a large defense prime's infrastructure behind you, this won't be a fit. If you want the autonomy to build that engine yourself and own the commercial outcomes, it is.

What you bring:

• Credibility and an active rolodex across SOCOM / DoD acquisition channels.
• A track record of turning early operational trials into funded programs for emerging hardware or defense tech.
• The structure and communication discipline to operate seamlessly with technical founders and military operators alike.