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Arkeus builds AI-powered sensing systems for autonomous platforms in defense and national security. The company is backed by QIC, Main Sequence, R+VC, Salus Ventures, Folklore Ventures, DYNE Ventures and Beaten Zone Venture Partners, and is entering a major growth phase.
As Proposal Manager, you will own how Arkeus wins new defense business. You will lead bids from RFP release through submission, transforming engineering capability into compliant, persuasive proposals that score highly with evaluators. Reporting to the VP of Growth, you will manage proposals across traditional FAR/DFARS procurements and faster acquisition routes (OTAs, DIU Commercial Solutions Openings, SBIR/STTR, AFWERX, Army xTech), and adapt bids for Australian, UK, NATO and other allied buyers.
This is a senior, hands-on role. You will write as well as manage, working directly with engineers, program leads and executives to produce each response. As the pipeline grows, you will build the processes, content library and resourcing needed to scale the proposal function. You will coordinate with business development on capture strategy and with finance on pricing. You will ensure compliance with ITAR/EAR, CUI marking and DISP/CMMC requirements, and build an approved content library (past performance, resumes, boilerplate) to reduce bid costs.
Key responsibilities include: running proposals from start to finish including requirements analysis, compliance matrices, schedules, win themes and colour-team reviews; writing and editing technical, management and past performance volumes; preparing bids for all US contract routes and adapting them for international markets; coordinating capture and pricing; and maintaining compliance while building reusable content.
REQUIREMENTS:
- At least 7 years writing or managing proposals, with a track record of won US government contracts worth more than US$5M
- Hands-on experience with DoD solicitations: Section L/M analysis, compliance matrices and colour-team reviews. Shipley training or APMP certification (Practitioner or Professional) strongly preferred
- Experience with fast acquisition routes (OTAs, DIU, SBIR/STTR, Replicator-style programs), not only traditional large-program bids
- Experience bidding in at least one non-US defence market, preferably Australia, the UK or NATO
- Technical fluency in uncrewed systems (UAS/UAV, autonomy, EO/IR payloads or counter-UAS), with ability to turn engineering content into evaluator-focused language
- Experience working under ITAR/EAR controls and, ideally, eligibility for a US security clearance
