[Hiring] Defense Programs Manager @Anno.ai

Role Description

As a Defense Programs Manager , you will play an important role in supporting and executing program management, business development, and federal acquisition initiatives within the defense and national security market.

• Manage and coordinate assigned activities for early-stage defense technology programs, including schedules, milestones, deliverables, budgets, and risk tracking.
• Monitor program performance, identify potential challenges, and recommend solutions to keep projects on track.
• Coordinate with internal technical teams, government customers, and external partners to support successful program execution.
• Develop program documentation, status reports, briefings, and other materials to communicate progress and support decision-making.
• Support federal contracting and acquisition activities within the DoD ecosystem, including acquisition planning, requirements development, and contract execution.
• Research and evaluate acquisition strategies, contract vehicles, solicitation requirements, and government procurement opportunities.
• Assist in developing and reviewing Statements of Work (SOW), Performance Work Statements (PWS), Statements of Objectives (SOO), and related acquisition documentation.
• Track acquisition timelines, solicitation requirements, deliverables, and compliance obligations in coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify, research, and evaluate business development opportunities aligned with Anno.ai's technologies, capabilities, and strategic priorities.
• Support capture planning, proposal development, and responses to government solicitations, requests for information (RFIs), and other business opportunities.
• Conduct market, customer, and competitor research to inform business development strategies and opportunity assessments.
• Help develop customer presentations, capability statements, proposals, and strategic briefings.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with government stakeholders, industry partners, and potential customers.
• Maintain opportunity pipelines, track business development activities, and provide regular updates to leadership.
• Translate government and military operational requirements into actionable business, technical, and program recommendations.
• Collaborate with leadership, engineering, operations, and business development teams to align customer needs with company capabilities.
• Take ownership of assigned projects and deliverables while proactively identifying opportunities to improve processes and outcomes.
• Adapt to changing priorities and contribute to a collaborative, results-oriented startup environment.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of relevant professional experience in defense programs, federal acquisitions, government contracting, business development, program management, or related field. Equivalent military or government experience will be considered.
• Working knowledge of DoD organizations, missions, acquisition processes, contracting practices, or program-management activities.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating projects or programs, managing deliverables, tracking milestones, and working with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience supporting federal acquisition, contracting, business development, or government program activities.
• Ability to independently research complex topics, analyze information, identify risks and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing professional reports, presentations, briefings, proposals, or decision-support materials.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
• Demonstrated initiative, problem-solving skills, and the ability to take ownership of assigned responsibilities with appropriate guidance.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with technical, operational, business, and government stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to quickly learn additional business development and program management tools.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive, proprietary, or mission-related information.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a remote, fast-moving, mission-focused team.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, including U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.

Requirements

• Direct experience supporting DoD acquisition, contracting, requirements development, resource management, program management, or operational planning.
• Experience developing, reviewing, or contributing to Performance Work Statements (PWS), Statements of Work (SOW), Statements of Objectives (SOO), or related acquisition documentation.
• Familiarity with the federal acquisition lifecycle, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), contract vehicles, Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), or SBIR/STTR programs.
• Experience supporting defense business development, capture management, proposal development, customer engagement, or opportunity assessments.
• Experience preparing responses to government RFIs, requests for proposals (RFPs), or other federal solicitations.
• Experience conducting market, customer, competitor, or opportunity research and presenting findings to leadership or other decision-makers.
• Experience translating military operational needs or government requirements into acquisition strategies, program plans, or business recommendations.
• Experience monitoring program schedules, budgets, risks, deliverables, and stakeholder commitments.
• Strong technical writing skills, particularly in developing acquisition documentation, proposals, technical reports, or customer-facing materials.
• Familiarity with autonomous systems, unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence, data analytics, or other emerging defense technologies.
• Bachelor's degree, military training, professional certification, or relevant coursework in business, acquisition, contracting, public policy, national security, engineering, or related field.
• Experience working in a startup, small business, or rapidly evolving organization.
• An active or recently held U.S. Government security clearance.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Equity.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• 401k with a 5% company match.
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off offering.
• Paid leave programs.
• Patent bonus program.
• Employee referral bonus program.
• Learning and development program.
• Opportunity to work with a team of highly skilled, creative and motivated team members.