[Hiring] Mission Manager @The Arena

Role Description

Mission Managers are the linchpin connecting our client's engineering and product teams with their military partners as they execute contracted work. You'll own mission and customer outcomes, build deep, trust-based relationships with military users, and translate complex operational needs into actionable product and program strategies.

This is a high ownership, customer facing role on the Mission Success team. No two weeks look the same: one week you're embedded with a unit at the tactical edge, the next you're working alongside engineers to turn what you learned into shipped capability, or briefing senior leadership. You'll make sure the platform meets the rigorous demands of modern military logistics, from the remote tactical edge to the highest levels of command.

What You'll Be Doing

• Work side by side with military customers to understand their unique challenges, and represent the customer as you work with engineering to shape product development.
• Translate customer and mission problems into clear product requirements, priorities, and actionable work for engineering and product teams.
• Collaborate cross functionally with engineering, product, business development, and executive teams to keep every team engaged and working toward customer success.
• Help solve technical problems, troubleshoot issues in the field, and drive software and product improvements to resolution.
• Support deployment of the platform for testing, evaluation, and operational use at government facilities and military bases.
• Lead training sessions so the product meets user needs and has a concrete impact on customer operations.
• Identify relevant datasets through deep engagement with customer problems and workflows, and work with engineers to integrate that data into product delivery.
• Travel regularly (25 to 50%) for customer engagements, deployments, and mission support.

Qualifications

• Military experience, ideally 4+ years in logistics or sustainment roles, with a strong understanding of military operations, customers, and mission environments.
• Meaningful experience in at least one of: business development / growth, customer relationship management, or product management (program or product management is especially valuable).
• Demonstrated ability to take an ambiguous problem, understand the underlying need, and drive it to a solution.
• Technical fluency to understand software problems, communicate effectively with engineers, and help drive product changes.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and decision making skills, plus exceptional written and verbal communication with customers, teammates, and senior leadership.
• Ability to work effectively with cross disciplinary teams, including engineering, product, operations, and growth.
• Willingness to travel 25 to 50% and work closely with customers in the field.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Bonus Points

• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.
• Experience working directly with military units, operators, or government customers.
• Experience with defense technology, military logistics, sustainment, C2, or operational software.
• Experience taking software or product capabilities into field environments.
• A track record of identifying a customer need and helping turn it into a shipped software capability.
• Experience balancing customer requests against engineering constraints and product priorities.
• Startup or other fast moving experience where you had broad ownership.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; premiums 100% covered for all employees; exceptionally low premiums for spouses and dependents.
• Basic life insurance and disability 100% covered for all employees; option to purchase additional life insurance.
• 'Take the time off that you need, when you need it' paid time off policy, not accrual based.
• Generous company holiday calendar including a December shutdown.
• Supportive leave of absence program including military service, medical events, and parental leave.
• Full 401(k) retirement plan for all full time eligible employees.
• Company funded commuter benefits.
• Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full time offers as part of total compensation; sign on bonus eligible.