C5ISR Technical Proposal Writer

Bowhead•Aberdeen, MD

1d•$85,000 - $120,000

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced C5ISR Technical Proposal Writer to develop compliant, compelling, and technically accurate proposal content in response to government solicitations supporting Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) programs. This individual will translate complex technical requirements into clear, persuasive, and evaluator-friendly proposal language, while leveraging generative AI tools to accelerate drafting, research, and compliance review. The ideal candidate combines strong technical writing skills with a working knowledge of C5ISR systems and the Shipley proposal development process, and is comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven government solicitation environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, English, Writing, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related field is required.
5 to 7 years of experience writing technical proposals, preferably in support of Department of War (DoW), Intelligence Community (IC), or other federal government solicitations.
Demonstrated experience writing to C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) technical requirements.
Hands-on experience using AI tools and platforms such as Awarded AI, Anthropic's Claude, ChatGPT, GenAI, ROGUE, GovDash, Autogen AI, CLEATUS AI, GovCon-specific AI tools, or similar generative AI platforms in a proposal development context.
Demonstrated ability to write effective, well-structured AI prompts to support research, drafting, and compliance review specific to government solicitations.
Working knowledge of the Shipley proposal writing and management process, including compliance matrices, color team reviews, and proposal scheduling.
Strong understanding of federal procurement language, including FAR/DFARS terminology, Sections L and M, and solicitation structure.
Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and persuasive technical content under deadline pressure.
Proven ability to work independently as a self-starter with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, quick-turn proposal environment.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaborative document tools.

Nice To Haves

Shipley certification or formal Shipley proposal training.
Prior experience supporting C5ISR, ISR, or related defense/intelligence technical programs as an engineer, analyst, or technical writer.
Familiarity with DoW acquisition processes and program lifecycle documentation.
Experience building or customizing AI prompt libraries or workflows specific to proposal development.
Active or eligible for a U.S. Government security clearance (if applicable).

Responsibilities

Research, draft, edit, and finalize technical proposal volumes in response to government solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, BAAs, etc.) involving C5ISR systems and capabilities.
Translate complex technical, engineering, and programmatic information from subject matter experts (SMEs) into clear, compliant, and persuasive proposal narrative.
Develop and refine effective AI prompts to leverage generative AI tools (e.g., Awarded AI, Anthropic's Claude, ChatGPT, GovCon-focused AI platforms, and similar) for proposal research, drafting, compliance matrix development, and content review.
Ensure all proposal content complies with solicitation instructions (Section L), evaluation criteria (Section M), and statement of work/objectives (Section C/PWS/SOO) requirements.
Apply Shipley-based proposal development methodologies, including compliance matrices, storyboards, win themes, and color team review processes (Pink, Red, Gold Team).
Collaborate with capture managers, proposal managers, technical SMEs, engineers, and program managers to gather inputs and resolve gaps in technical content.
Incorporate feedback from color team reviews and revise proposal sections to improve compliance, clarity, and competitiveness.
Maintain consistency in tone, formatting, terminology, and win themes across all proposal volumes.
Support development and maintenance of proposal templates, boilerplate libraries, and reusable content to improve efficiency on future proposals.
Manage multiple concurrent writing assignments under tight, quick-turn deadlines while maintaining quality and compliance.
Conduct quality control reviews of proposal content for grammar, clarity, technical accuracy, and adherence to page/format limitations.
Other duties as assigned.