Senior Mission Manager (Clearance Required)

Vannevar; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401(k) match

Job summary

Vannevar is seeking a Senior Mission Manager to drive the adoption of innovative defense technology within government program offices. This role requires extensive experience in defense missions, strong technical acumen, and the ability to operate in complex environments. The successful candidate will lead program engagements, translate needs into actionable plans, and ensure successful program implementation. The position offers a competitive salary range of $180,000 - $220,000 and holistic benefits, including health insurance and unlimited PTO.

Qualifications

• 15–20+ years of experience in government or defense missions.
• Deep expertise in cyber, information warfare, or ISR.
• Proven experience in selling technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagements with government program offices.
• Translate program needs into technical narratives.
• Scope and shape program-based pilots.

Skills

Government or defense experience

Strong technical fluency

Ability to scope and pitch technical solutions

Navigating programmatic realities

Expertise in defense mission

Job description

Vannevar is a defense technology company building AI to deter our adversaries. In the 21st century, conflict moves at algorithmic speed and foresight equals firepower. Our agentic AI is purpose-built to compete with China—from cross-Strait conflict to gray zone coercion. Trained on the most mission-relevant datasets in defense, our technology models adversary behavior, simulates campaigns, and recommends the best course of action to decision makers. Our AI systems are some of the most trusted in the industry and actively used on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific to keep the peace and save lives.

Exceptional technology starts with exceptional people. Vannevar is a small agile team combining world-class engineers with veteran strategists who bring deep expertise in defense and tradecraft. We’re building a company defined by mission impact, user empathy, and disciplined growth. In just three years, we grew from $3M to $80M in ARR, achieved early profitability, and reached unicorn status—proving that disruption doesn’t require an ego, and staying power doesn’t mean standing still.

About The Role

As a Senior Mission Manager, you will serve as a senior mission-facing leader responsible for driving program-based adoption of Vannevar Labs’ technology within government program offices. You will work closely with PEOs, PMWs, and program managers to shape pilots, scope capabilities, and convert demonstrated mission value into funded programs. This is a highly autonomous role that requires deep mission credibility, strong technical intuition, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, early-stage program environments.

U.S. Persons status with at least a current Top Secret US DoD or IC clearance is required. This position is required to be based in DC, North Carolina, or Tampa.

What you’ll do

• Lead engagements with program offices (PEOs, PMWs, PMOs, and equivalent organizations) to identify mission problems that Vannevar Labs’ technology can solve.
• Translate program needs into technical narratives, clearly explaining how our software and agent-based capabilities map to requirements, constraints, and outcomes.
• Scope and shape program-based pilots, defining objectives, success criteria, timelines, and pathways to scale.
• Pitch the technology with credibility, leveraging your mission and domain background to build trust with program managers and technical authorities.
• Navigate programmatic realities, including requirements development, budgeting cycles, contracting pathways, and stakeholder coordination.
• Partner closely with product managers and engineers to ensure mission context is accurately reflected in technical scope, tradeoffs, and delivery plans.
• Convert successful pilots into sustained programs, helping program offices justify follow-on funding and broader adoption.
• Represent Vannevar Labs within the program ecosystem as a mission-credible, technically fluent partner.

What we’re looking for

• 15–20+ years of experience in government or defense missions, typically as a retired O5/O6 or senior enlisted or civilian equivalent
• Deep expertise in a specific mission or technical domain (e.g., cyber, information warfare, ISR, networks, operational intelligence, warfare systems/command and control).
• Strong ability to scope, pitch, and sell technical solutions to senior government stakeholders — not just explain missions, but connect them to software capabilities.
• Proven experience navigating programmatic realities, including budgets, requirements, authorities, timelines, and stakeholder dynamics.
• Sufficient technical fluency to:
• Understand modern software systems and agent-based approaches
• Partner effectively with product and engineering teams
• Translate complex concepts into clear, mission-relevant narratives
• Demonstrated scrappiness and bias toward action — comfortable operating in ambiguity and pushing programs forward without perfect structure.
• High enthusiasm for building something new and shaping how cutting-edge technology is adopted inside government.
• Bonus of having acquisition, resource sponsor, or program manager experience.

What we value

• Mission-first mindset with a focus on real operational outcomes.
• Technical credibility paired with humility — able to learn quickly and ask the right questions.
• Clarity and precision in communication, especially with senior leaders.
• Ownership mentality — taking responsibility for moving programs from idea to execution.
• Low ego, high trust, and comfort collaborating across product, engineering, and mission teams.

What we offer

• Competitive Salary: $180,000 - $220,000 + equity. Within the range, individual pay is determined by experience, relevant education, and/or training.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Remote friendly with WeWork access
• Unlimited PTO, shared downtime during the federal holiday calendar, and company-wide off time at the end of each year
• 401(k) match
• Lifestyle & wellbeing stipends
• Salary top-up during military reserve duty
• Fully paid parental leave
• Child and pet care reimbursement during travel

Vannevar is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, even if you don't feel like you're a perfect fit. If you're passionate about contributing to our mission, we'd love to hear from you!

IMPORTANT NOTICE We are committed to protecting the privacy of all applicants. Official emails from the company will come from an @vannevarlabs.com domain. Under no circumstances will a legitimate representative from our company contact you to request passwords, financial information, or other sensitive personal data. Please be vigilant of potential scams.