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Salary: USD 175,000 - 250,000 / annual
Applied Intuition is seeking a Mission Director for SOCOM to serve as the senior relationship and strategic shaping lead for the company's special operations portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Growth, this role is responsible for identifying and shaping strategic opportunities within special operations mission areas, building deep credibility with senior USSOCOM stakeholders, and positioning Applied Intuition as the technology partner of choice for special operations forces.
Key responsibilities include cultivating senior-level trust-based relationships with USSOCOM leadership, Program Managers (O-6+), requirements officers, and innovation leads across SOCOM, USASOC, AFSOC, MARSOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, and key program offices. The director will shape opportunities 12-18 months in advance by influencing requirements, acquisition strategies, and program structures before they reach the public domain. This includes leading strategic customer discovery to understand long-term capability roadmaps, budget trajectories across PPBE cycles, and political dynamics within the special operations community.
The role requires opening doors and building deep credibility as Applied Intuition's senior voice on special operations technology, translating operator problems into technology requirements that drive program shaping. The director will maintain backchannel sources of information across the special operations community and establish senior-level escalation paths when strategic deals encounter political or programmatic obstacles. Critical responsibilities include making 'pursue vs. walk away' decisions and partnering with Account Executives, Capture Managers, and Engineers to convert strategic shaping into a winning pipeline.
Ideal candidates have 15–25 years of experience in or around SOCOM and special operations, including military O-5/O-6 with SOF operational background, GS-15/SES in SOCOM acquisition or requirements, or senior industry business development and strategic growth leadership supporting SOF. Executive-level expertise in the PPBE cycle, SOCOM's unique acquisition authorities (Section 1202, Section 1208), and Congressional authorization/appropriation dynamics is essential. A proven track record of shaping requirements for multi-million dollar defense programs 12-18+ months before RFP release, ideally in autonomy, mission planning, simulation, or C4ISR domains, is required. Candidates must have specific, warm relationships within USSOCOM and key program offices with the ability to secure meetings with O-6+ decision makers and operators. Deep understanding of SOF capability gaps and operational challenges in denied environments is critical. An active Secret or Top Secret security clearance (TS/SCI preferred) is required.
Applied Intuition is a Silicon Valley-based company valued at $15 billion, founded in 2017, powering the future of physical AI. The company creates digital infrastructure for autonomous systems across automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture. Applied Intuition maintains offices globally including Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach; Ann Arbor; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. The company operates primarily in-office with 5 days per week expected, though flexibility for occasional remote work is recognized.
