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Consulting, Business Services, Strategic Management

Mission Lead, Protection Operations

Arlington, VAOnsiteFull TimeLead$160,000–$190,000 /yrPosted 11 days ago

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Required skills

  • MAJ
  • LTC
  • GS-13
  • GS-14
  • Army protection background
  • Field Artillery
  • Air Defense Artillery
  • engineering background
  • operational level
  • strategic level

Nice to have

  • force protection policy
  • plans
  • SOPs
  • combatant command
  • component command
  • USAREUR-AF

Role summary

Early-stage Defense AI company seeks a Mission Lead for Protection Operations in Arlington, VA. This full-time role requires deep expertise in base defense, force protection, and counter-unmanned systems at the operational or strategic level, with experience in G3/J3 protection cells. The Mission Lead will translate protection problems into requirements for engineers, work directly with operational staffs, and shape future product development. Must have an Army protection background (MAJ/LTC or GS-13/14 equivalent) and hands-on experience. Preferred experience includes policy writing and homeland defense. Compensation is $160k-$190k base plus equity.

Mission Lead, Protection Operations

Company: Early-Stage Defense Tech AILocation: Arlington, VA (in person)Compensation: $160,000 to $190,000 base, plus equityTravel: Up to 20%Type: Full-time

About the Client

We're on a mission to ensure warfighters are prepared for every challenge they face. We are committed to assembling a world-class team of exceptional problem solvers, combining expert engineering talent with deep experience in National Security.

We build AI for the most important problem in defense: making sure the force is ready to fight. Our software is deployed and in use with DoD partners today. The office is in the Arlington area.

About the Role

We are standing up a protection-focused effort and need the person who leads it on the mission side. This is a domain seat. You are being hired because you have worked on base defense and force protection problems at the operational or strategic level, you know how protection decisions actually get made at a component or combatant command, and you can walk into a G3/J3 protection cell and be immediately credible.

You do not need to be a technologist. What matters is deep expertise in supporting decision-making around force protection: the sensor-to-shooter picture, counter-unmanned systems, antiterrorism planning, and the policy, plans, and SOPs that tie them together. Our engineers build the software. You make sure it solves the problem the commander actually has.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the mission side of a new protection effort, from first customer meeting through scoping, design input, training, and ongoing support.
  • Translate force protection, base defense, and counter-unmanned systems problems into clear requirements our engineers can build against.
  • Work directly with protection cells, installation leaders, and operational staffs to understand how they plan, decide, and act.
  • Bring your knowledge of protection policy, plans, and SOPs into the product so it fits the way commands already work.
  • Travel to customer sites and events (up to 20%), then bring what you learned back to the team.
  • Help shape what the company builds next in the protection space.

    • Requirements

    Must-Haves

  • An Army protection background, mid-career: MAJ or LTC, or GS-13/14 equivalent.
  • A Field Artillery, Air Defense Artillery, or engineering background.
  • Hands-on work on base defense and protection problems at the operational or strategic level.
  • Expert knowledge of sensor-to-shooter networks, homeland defense or protection planning, counter-unmanned systems (cUxS), and antiterrorism planning.
  • Experience in a G3/J3 protection cell at an Army Service Component Command or combatant command, or in a force protection role with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Startup fit: high ownership, comfort with ambiguity, and the drive to move fast without being told what to prioritize.
  • Ability to work in person in Arlington, VA.

    • Nice-to-Haves

  • Experience writing or owning force protection policy, plans, or SOPs at a combatant command or component command (for example, USAREUR-AF).
  • Homeland defense or installation protection experience (for example, USNORTHCOM or ARNORTH).
  • Recent counter-small UAS work at the joint or interagency level.

    • Compensation & Benefits

  • Competitive salary and equity to share in our success
  • The chance to join a founding team and directly shape the future of the company
  • The opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI technology in a defense context
  • Full health and dental benefits, 401(k), commuting benefits, lunch when in office
    • Ready to apply?
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