Senior Proposal Writer

Zone 5 Technologies; United States; Remote; USD 85,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life

401k with company match

3 weeks paid time off

Sick time

12 annual company holidays

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies is seeking a Senior Proposal Writer to develop and maintain persuasive proposal content for our UAS programs. You will transform technical information into compelling narratives that meet customer requirements and evaluation criteria.

The role requires aerospace/defense proposal experience, strong writing and interviewing skills, and the ability to manage tight deadlines while ensuring compliance with FAR and solicitation instructions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Communication, Journalism, Communications, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience as a proposal writer with aerospace, defense, or manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrated success writing winning competitive proposals.
• Strong understanding of the FAR and competitive proposal processes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present technical information persuasively.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.

Responsibilities

• Plan, write, and maintain customer-focused proposals for aerospace systems and products.
• Analyze RFPs, RFIs, BAAs, SOWs, and evaluation criteria to determine proposal requirements.
• Collaborate with Capture Managers to understand win themes and customer priorities.
• Collaborate with TPMs, business development, engineers, contracts, finance, manufacturing, quality, technical writers, and leadership to transform information into persuasive narratives.
• Interview subject matter experts to gather technical, management, manufacturing, logistics, quality assurance, cybersecurity, and program execution information.
• Write and edit technical, management, executive summary, past performance, staffing, quality, manufacturing, and transition plan sections.
• Ensure content compliance with solicitation instructions, page limits, formatting, and evaluation criteria.
• Develop proposal outlines, storyboards, content plans, and annotated templates.
• Produce illustrations and visuals to enhance understanding of complex systems.
• Participate in Pink/Red/Gold/White Glove reviews and incorporate reviewer comments.
• Maintain proposal libraries, reusable content, resumes, past performance narratives, and capability statements.

Skills

Proposal writing

FAR knowledge

Technical writing

SME interviewing

Editing skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in unmanned aircraft systems. Our team of engineers and innovators is developing cutting-edge autonomous solutions that push the boundaries of UAS technology - solving complex challenges that matter.

We're building the future of UAS capabilities, and we're looking for exceptional talent to join us. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on next-generation flight systems, you belong here.

We're seeking a Senior Proposal Writer to develop and maintain highly informed and persuasive proposal content in support of competitive bids for our Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UASs) programs. The ideal candidate has a background in aerospace and/or defense proposal creation, and experience translating technical subject matter into compelling, clear, and concise proposal materials.

You will work closely withTechnicalProgramManagers(TPMs),businessdevelopment professionals, engineers,contracts, finance,manufacturing,quality,technical writers,andexecutive leadershipto transform technical, management, and operational information into persuasive proposal narratives that align with customer requirements and evaluation criteria.

The Senior Proposal Writer leads the development of proposal sections, contributes to win strategies and messaging, ensures compliance with solicitation requirements, and produces high-quality proposal documents under demanding deadlines. The position requires exceptional writing, editing, interviewing, and organizational skills, along with a strong understanding of the federal acquisition process and defense industry terminology.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, write, andmaintaincustomer-focusedproposalsfor aerospace systems and products.
• Analyze Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and evaluation criteria todetermineproposal requirements.
• Collaborate with Capture Managers to understand win themes, discriminators, and customer priorities.
• CollaboratewithTechnical ProgramManagers(TPMs),business development professionals, engineers,contracts, finance, manufacturing, quality, technical writers,andexecutive leadershipto transform technical, management, and operational information into persuasive proposal narratives that align with customer requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Interview subject matter experts to gather technical, management, manufacturing,logistics, quality assurance, cybersecurity, and program execution information.
• Write and edit technical, management, executive summary, past performance, staffing, quality, manufacturing, and transition plan sections.
• Ensure proposal content is compliant with solicitation instructions, page limitations, formatting requirements, and evaluation criteria.
• Develop proposal outlines, storyboards, content plans, and annotated templates.
• Produceoracquireillustrations,diagrams,and othervisual aids to enhancetheunderstanding of complex aerospace systems and workflows.
• Participate in proposal reviews, including Pink Team, Red Team, Gold Team, and White Glove reviews.
• Incorporate reviewer comments and manage document revisions throughout the proposal lifecycle.
• Maintain proposal libraries, reusable content,resumes, past performance narratives, and corporate capability statements.
• Maintain confidentiality of proprietary, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), export-controlled, and competition-sensitive information.
• Continuously improveproposal creation and managementprocesses to meet evolvingteam needs,aerospace industry requirements,and customer expectations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree inEnglish, Technical Communication, Journalism, Communications, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7years of experience as aproposalwriter withat leastsome of thatexperience writingproposalsfor theaerospace,defense, ormanufacturingindustry.
• Demonstrated success writing winning competitive proposals.
• Strong understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and competitive proposal processes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability topresenttechnical informationpersuasivelytoa range of audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities undertightdeadlines.
• Advancedproficiencywith Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting proposals valued at $10 million or greater.
• Experience with schedulingprograms usingMS Project or other software platforms.
• Familiarity with Shipley proposal developmentmethodologyor similar proposal best practices.
• Experience with proposal collaboration platforms such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or proposal automation tools.
• Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing, systems engineering, avionics, software development,logistics, cybersecurity, or sustainment programs.
• APMP Foundation, Practitioner, or Professional certification.
• Active U.S. security clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Level III: $85,000 - $123,000

Level IV: $123,000 - $150,000

Pay range for this role

$85,000 - $150,000 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company-match
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year
• 40 hours of sick time
• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E-Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify: https://www.e-verify.gov .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Zone 5 Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.