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Vannevar Labs · 7 hours ago

Mission Systems Director

United States

Full-time

Remote

Director/Executive

Vannevar Labs is a defense technology company focused on building AI solutions to enhance national security. They are seeking a Mission Systems Director to lead acquisition strategies, develop customer relationships, and guide program positioning within the defense sector.

AerospaceArtificial Intelligence (AI)GovTechNational SecuritySoftware

Responsibilities

Advise on program structures, acquisition pathways, funding lines, risk areas, and modernization priorities

Identify where and how Vannevar can meaningfully support programs—whether through capability gaps, integration challenges, or modernization timelines

Inform long-range strategy around $25M–$50M+ programs, major new starts, re-competes, and technical upgrade cycles

Leverage your network across PEOs, PMWs, and partner organizations to open doors, deepen trust, and accelerate customer understanding

Engage senior acquisition leaders to understand real-world constraints, mission needs, and where Vannevar’s technology can be most impactful

Navigate program offices with fluency—knowing who the decision-makers are, how they think, and how programs actually move

Partner with the Senior Growth Lead to influence requirements early, shape concept of operations, and ensure our offerings align to program office needs

Provide technical, operational, and programmatic context that positions Vannevar uniquely versus primes, integrators, and other emerging vendors

Support bid/no-bid calls, capture strategy, teaming strategy, and price-to-win considerations based on insider program knowledge

Map out acquisition timelines, key decision points, POM cycles, reprogramming windows, and PMW-specific budget patterns to inform Vannevar’s growth roadmap

Help translate multi-year PEO strategies into actionable near-term opportunities that the Growth Lead can pursue

Provide internal teams—engineering, product, mission, and leadership—with authentic program office insights on integration, testing, sustainment, risk, and fielding realities

Ensure Vannevar’s offerings resonate with acquisition leaders and align with the technical, operational, and contracting realities of programs

Qualification

PEO experienceAcquisition strategyBudgeting cyclesProgram office navigationTechnical integrationDesire for innovationCommunication

Required

Former PEO, Deputy PEO, Senior PMW lead, ACAT I/II PM, or equivalent Senior Program Manager

First-hand experience navigating JCIDS, DAS, budgeting cycles, POM builds, milestone decisions, integration pipelines, T&E, and sustainment pathways

Strong network across program offices, technical authorities, warfare centers, primes, and integrators

Familiarity with how software, networks, cyber, or mission systems capabilities are built, evaluated, integrated, and purchased

Experience partnering closely with industry or evaluating industry proposals—able to guide strategy, shaping, and competitive positioning from the government perspective

Strong communication instincts—able to translate complex acquisition and program realities into clear guidance for a fast-moving startup

Desire to help shape something new, with comfort operating in ambiguity and a bias toward action