Navy Mission Engagement Lead — San Diego, Top Secret

Sitreps; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) match

Unlimited PTO

Fully paid parental leave

Wellness and lifestyle stipends

Job summary

Venture-backed defense AI software company (name disclosed upon mutual interest) is seeking a Navy Mission Engagement Lead in San Diego. You will be the customer-facing owner of mission outcomes across the Navy enterprise, shaping pilots, deployments, and funded programs with cross-functional teams.

Expect to work in secure spaces, translate mission needs into technical stories, and coordinate with Product, Engineering, Mission, Security, and Operations to deliver and scale.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance and U.S. Person status.
• 5+ years supporting the Department of the Navy, defense acquisition, government technology, or national security programs.
• Experience in or alongside Navy program offices, PEOs, SYSCOMs, warfare centers, or operational commands.
• Background in defense acquisition, capability development, requirements, program management, systems engineering, or technical program execution.
• Familiarity with Navy budgeting, acquisition, experimentation, and transition pathways (for example PEOs, NAVWAR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA, or NIWC).
• Strong technical intuition and credibility with engineers, operators, acquisition professionals, and senior leaders.
• Experience leading customer engagements around complex technical systems or software platforms.
• Ability to build trust and drive outcomes across large government organizations, working independently.
• Based in San Diego and willing to travel frequently.

Responsibilities

• Build and keep trusted relationships across Navy program offices, PAEs, SYSCOMs, warfare centers, and operational commands.
• Find new mission opportunities by understanding capability gaps, operational requirements, and acquisition priorities.
• Lead customer engagements, including mission discovery, capability demonstrations, operational assessments, and account planning.
• Own Navy mission and program engagements end to end, from pilot execution through operational adoption and transition to a program of record.
• Translate operational challenges and technical requirements into practical solutions built on the company's software.
• Work with government program managers, engineers, operators, and acquisition professionals on capability development and transition strategy.
• Help customers navigate Navy acquisition, budgeting, requirements, experimentation, and transition pathways.
• Support demonstrations, exercises, prototypes, and field deployments alongside Navy stakeholders.
• Make sure customer feedback reaches product and engineering and shapes the roadmap.
• Represent the company at Navy industry events, technical exchanges, exercises, and conferences.

Job description

Venture-backed defense AI software company (name disclosed upon mutual interest) is seeking a Navy Mission Engagement Lead in San Diego. You will be the customer-facing owner of mission outcomes across the Navy enterprise, shaping pilots, deployments, and funded programs with cross-functional teams.

Expect to work in secure spaces, translate mission needs into technical stories, and coordinate with Product, Engineering, Mission, Security, and Operations to deliver and scale.