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NODA AI is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company developing next-generation autonomous orchestration solutions for unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space. The company serves defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors with mission-critical autonomous capabilities.
As Mission Lead, you will manage customer-facing technical programs, pre-sales projects, pilot programs, and field deployments that showcase and deliver NODA's technology. This is a hands-on, customer-facing role combining technical program management, operational execution, and customer engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead day-to-day execution of customer-facing technical programs, demonstrations, pilots, and field deployments from scoping through integration, launch readiness, delivery, and operational handoff.
- Develop and manage integrated program plans including milestones, schedules, dependencies, resource requirements, risks, deliverables, and success criteria.
- Partner with Business Development, Product, and Engineering to scope pilot programs and novel technology integrations aligned with customer mission requirements.
- Serve as primary programmatic and operational liaison between customers, government stakeholders, and internal cross-functional teams, maintaining clear communication and accountability.
- Translate customer mission requirements, operational workflows, and technical constraints into actionable project plans.
- Track technical integration progress, assess deployment readiness, proactively identify and mitigate risks, and drive timely decisions.
- Collaborate with Product Management to align customer-driven development and pilot efforts with product roadmaps and strategic direction.
- Gather and synthesize customer feedback, operational insights, and lessons learned from demonstrations and deployments.
- Support Business Development by providing technical and programmatic expertise during customer engagements and identifying expansion opportunities.
- Coordinate operational handoffs, post-deployment support, and issue escalation processes.
- Travel to customer sites, field exercises, and operational environments to support demonstrations and deployments hands-on (up to 30% travel).
- Establish and continuously improve program execution practices, customer onboarding, deployment readiness, and operational processes.
- Manage program information and customer data with appropriate discretion in accordance with security and compliance requirements.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related technical field, or equivalent military/operational experience.
- 5+ years of experience in technical program management, project management, mission management, deployment management, or related roles in technology, defense, or mission-critical operational environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional technical programs from planning through execution, delivery, and operational handoff.
- Strong organizational, program management, and communication skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and evolving requirements.
- Experience working with technical teams and translating customer mission requirements into actionable project plans and measurable success criteria.
- Technical aptitude and experience with complex hardware, software, networking, infrastructure, systems integration, or related technical environments.
- Proven track record managing project scope, schedules, dependencies, resources, and risks while delivering complex technical programs on time and within scope.
- Experience engaging directly with customers, technical stakeholders, and cross-functional leadership.
- Previous military, government, defense technology, or defense industry experience, particularly supporting operational missions and technical deployments.
- Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned platforms, or related technologies including hardware and software integration.
- Field deployment or operational environment experience with hands-on support of demonstrations, integrations, or operational readiness activities.
- Ability to operate independently, establish structure in ambiguous environments, and maintain execution momentum in fast-paced organizations.
- U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations; ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in pre-sales, solutions engineering, technical customer engagement, or customer-facing mission execution.
- Experience supporting DoD, intelligence community, or other government stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience transitioning prototypes, demonstrations, or pilots into operational deployments.
- Familiarity with field operations, deployment logistics, technical integration, and operational readiness.
- Advanced degree (MS or MBA) in relevant technical, business, or management discipline.
