Mission Director

Defense Unicorns

. Identify and develop net-new PAE Fires/Maneuver Ground opportunities and build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes and key stakeholders .

Posted 10/14/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $145,000 - $185,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in business development and program management within the defense sector, with a strong focus on contract execution, customer retention, and portfolio growth. Possesses technical fluency in Defense Unicorns products and modern software delivery concepts, enabling effective communication and solution shaping.

Highest-signal resume keywords

PAE Fires/Maneuver Ground ExperienceFederal Acquisition KnowledgeMilitary Operations UnderstandingContract Negotiation SkillsTeam Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Program ManagementBusiness DevelopmentContract ManagementAcquisition StrategiesRevenue GenerationRisk ManagementProposal DevelopmentExecution AccountabilityOpportunity IdentificationPortfolio Leadership

Soft Skills

Commercial JudgmentAdaptabilityRelationship BuildingProblem SolvingTeam Building

Tools & Technologies

Defense Unicorns ProductsCloud-Native TechnologiesDevSecOpsKubernetesModern Software Delivery Concepts

Industry Keywords

Defense IndustryGovernment Program ManagementContract VehiclesStakeholder EngagementMission Outcomes

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudKubernetes

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Identify and develop net-new PAE Fires/Maneuver Ground opportunities and build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes and key stakeholders
Own a quota and grow a diversified portfolio of business
Define customer problems, scope, and desired outcomes to shape solutions using Defense Unicorns products and the right acquisition approach
Lead opportunities through proposal, negotiation, and contract award
Serve as program leader for new contracts closed, with responsibility for execution until additional program management support is warranted
Manage delivery risks, scope changes, and mission outcomes
Define and build the team required to execute each contract
Personally lead contract execution and lead program managers and delivery leaders as the portfolio grows
Maintain an active pipeline and develop new opportunities while executing existing contracts
Identify follow-on work, expansions, and adjacent opportunities
Own customer retention, portfolio growth, and gross margin
Grow from individual contract ownership into a broader portfolio leadership role

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience within PAE Fires/Maneuver Ground or a closely related defense environment
Strong understanding of the culture, mission, stakeholders, and terminology within the domain supported
Experience in military operations, government program management, acquisition, contracting, business development, or defense industry program leadership
Working knowledge of federal acquisition, including contract vehicles, acquisition strategies, and contract negotiations
Strong commercial judgment and comfort owning revenue-generating activities
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and hold accountability for outcomes
Willingness to operate across business development, contracting, staffing, and execution
Ability to operate with ambiguity, identify opportunities, and create a path forward without a predefined playbook
Technical fluency sufficient to understand and communicate Defense Unicorns products, cloud-native technologies, DevSecOps, Kubernetes, and modern software delivery concepts
Ability to travel approximately 25–40%
Candidates located near major Army hubs are preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical/Dental/Vision
Premiums are 100% Company Paid
Health Savings Account
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401k Retirement Plan
Company Stock Options
Home Office Budget
Flexible Time Off (FTO)
Federal Holidays
One week for Thanksgiving
Two weeks for Christmas and New Year's
Paid Parental Leave
Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)