Director, Strategic Defense Programs

Seekr • Reston, VA

1d • $200,000 - $280,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Seekr is hiring a Director, Strategic Defense Programs to lead its strategic defense partnerships and align individual program efforts into a unified strategy that expands adoption of Seekr AI capabilities across partner enterprises. The role combines executive partnership stewardship with technical credibility and hands-on experience building and integrating mission systems. It spans airborne ISR, C2, tactical and strategic communications, and mission integration across agencies and classification levels.

The Director will lead the partner relationship across business development, program execution, and technical solutioning; establish partnership governance; guide joint capture efforts; and represent Seekr with government customers. The position develops portfolio strategy and demand for new AI capability insertions, guides programs from prototype and demonstration through testing and transition to program of record, coordinates Seekr's internal teams, and manages portfolio risks and performance.

The role requires an active U.S. Secret clearance, with Top Secret clearance and SCI eligibility highly preferred, and frequent travel of up to 30%. The position offers a flexible hybrid work environment with offices in Reston, Virginia, and Austin, Texas, as well as remote options. The proposed salary range is $200,000–$280,000 USD, with potential eligibility for bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation. Applicants must meet the stated U.S. Government international trade regulations eligibility criteria.

Requirements

• Active U.S. Secret clearance; Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is highly preferred.
• 15 or more years of experience in defense programs, with direct involvement in DoD mission systems integration across ISR platforms, C2 architectures, or tactical or strategic communications systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading the build of mission systems, including sensor integration, communications payload installation, and government airworthiness or fielding processes.
• Hands-on experience across the program lifecycle, from concept and rapid prototype through live demonstration, formal testing, and transition to program of record.
• Ability to manage and align multiple concurrent programs under a cohesive portfolio strategy while balancing program execution with enterprise-level visibility and prioritization.
• Strong customer-facing program leadership skills and prior experience managing a complex, multi-stakeholder defense partnership or channel relationship at the prime or sub-prime level.
• Experience developing strategic demand-generation plans, identifying capability gaps, building business cases, and influencing partner and customer acquisition decisions.
• Solid understanding of DoD acquisition frameworks (FAR/DFARS), OT authorities, and competitive proposal processes.
• Willingness to travel frequently, up to 30%.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, aerospace, systems engineering, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience at a prime defense integrator in a mission systems, C2, or special mission aircraft role.
• Prior military service in an ISR, C2, communications, or intelligence career field, particularly with operational exposure to airborne collection, battle management, or tactical networking systems.
• Track record of growing a technology partnership by proactively creating new program opportunities.
• Familiarity with AI/ML applied to signal processing, image exploitation, sensor fusion, C2 decision support, or communications network optimization.
• Familiarity with JADC2 concepts, ABMS, or related DoD multi-domain connectivity and interoperability initiatives.
• Experience with rapid prototyping programs, including transition from prototype to production.
• Active engagement in relevant government program offices and familiarity with their investment priorities.
• Ability to operate in a fast-moving AI company while maintaining the rigor and credibility expected by a large defense prime.
• Knowledge of AI infrastructure, trusted AI, LLM ecosystems, or mission AI workloads.
• Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end executive relationship with strategic defense partners and serve as the primary interface across business development, program execution, and technical solutioning.
• Develop and manage joint partnership governance, including program review cadences, escalation paths, IP and NDA structures, and shared investment planning.
• Lead joint capture activities, including opportunity identification, teaming structure, and proposal development.
• Represent Seekr in government customer engagements, industry events, and classified program briefings across priority mission domains.
• Develop and maintain a unified strategic plan mapping Seekr AI capabilities across the partner's portfolio, identifying insertion points, sequencing opportunities, and customer mission priorities.
• Coordinate individual program efforts under a coherent portfolio strategy and ensure programs contribute to enterprise-level AI adoption.
• Generate demand for new AI capability insertions by identifying partner program gaps where Seekr can provide mission value and building business cases to pursue opportunities.
• Maintain awareness of customer requirements, adjacent program activity, and competitive positioning across airborne ISR, ground and airborne C2, JADC2-aligned communications, and multi-domain mission integration.
• Track and report portfolio metrics, including pipeline health, program milestones, and partnership maturity, to Seekr executive leadership.
• Guide programs from rapid prototyping and live demonstration through formal T&E, OT&A, and transition to program of record.
• Translate Seekr AI capabilities into mission-level value propositions and work with partner mission systems engineers on integration approaches, interface requirements, and technical feasibility.
• Coordinate Seekr engineering, product, contracts, legal, and finance teams to support partner deliverables and meet schedule and budget commitments.
• Identify and manage portfolio program risks and resolve technical, schedule, and contractual issues before they affect partner or customer relationships.
• Travel frequently, up to 30%, to partner sites, government customer locations, and demonstration events.

Benefits

• Equity ownership through RSUs.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• 14 paid company holidays.
• Flexible hybrid work environment, with remote options and flexible working hours.
• Role-appropriate compensation, with possible base salary, bonuses, or commission plans depending on role.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starting day one, for employees and their families.
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster placement.
• Potential eligibility for annual bonus, equity, or other incentive compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director