Senior Proposal Writer

Agile Defense

. Lead development of high-quality, compelling proposal content for complex government bids supporting federal civilian and defense customers .

Posted 10/22/2026full-timeMcLean • Virginia • United StatesSenior💰 $145,000 - $175,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in developing high-quality proposal content for federal civilian and defense customers, with a strong ability to convert complex technical material into clear, compelling narratives. Proficient in managing multiple bids and deadlines while ensuring compliance with solicitation requirements and industry standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Proposal DevelopmentTechnical WritingFederal Proposal ExperienceShipley MethodologyMS Office Suite Proficiency

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Proposal DevelopmentTechnical WritingManagement ApproachesTechnical ApproachesEditing and Refining ContentProposal MethodologiesInformation GatheringContent ComplianceNarrative DevelopmentDeadline Management

Soft Skills

Written CommunicationOrganizationAttention to DetailInterviewing SkillsCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

MS Office SuiteSharePointVT DocsPSCiProposal Collaboration Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

APMP PractitionerProposal Management TrainingTechnical Writing Certificate

Industry Keywords

Federal CivilianDefense CustomersIntelligence CommunityProposal LifecycleColor Team Reviews

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead development of high-quality, compelling proposal content for complex government bids supporting federal civilian and defense customers
Develop technical approaches, management approaches, and other narrative sections requiring technical insight
Collaborate with solution architects to understand solution designs and articulate them clearly for proposal evaluators
Engage subject matter experts across diverse technical domains to gather, synthesize, and refine technical input
Ensure proposal content complies with solicitation requirements, aligns with win themes, and reflects customer mission understanding
Manage and prioritize multiple bids and deadlines concurrently
Collaborate with proposal managers, graphics specialists, and other team members throughout the proposal lifecycle
Edit and refine content for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and industry writing standards
Apply proposal methodologies such as Shipley and APMP
Participate in Blue, Pink, Red, and Gold color team reviews and activities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of 6 years of experience developing proposal content for federal civilian and defense customers, including work specifically supporting the IC
Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Business, Technical Writing, or a related field
Additional experience or technical writing certificate in lieu of degree would be acceptable
Demonstrated ability to convert complex technical material into clear, compelling written content
Proven experience writing technical and management approaches for federal proposals
Ability to work efficiently under pressure while managing multiple concurrent deadlines
Strong interviewing skills for gathering information from SMEs
Excellent written communication, organization, and attention to detail
Proficient in MS Office Suite and SharePoint
Active security clearance or ability to obtain a clearance
Shipley, APMP Practitioner, or other formal proposal management/writing methodology training
Experience with proposals for classified or IC customers
Familiarity with proposal collaboration tools and environments, including SharePoint, VT Docs, and PSCi

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
Flexibility to work late nights and weekends, as required