Government Relations

NOX METALS•Detroit, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Nox Metals is a technology company in Detroit supplying aluminum plate, bar, and rounds to aerospace and defense manufacturers. We use software and automation to supply metal to American factories faster than the industry thought possible. We need a Government Relations leader to own every relationship, every program, and every policy lever that touches Nox in Washington. The defense industrial base is being rebuilt right now, and Nox is one of the companies it is being rebuilt around. You are the person who makes sure the Pentagon, the Hill, and the executive branch know who we are and what we are building, while staying close to the floor in Detroit where the work actually happens. Nox Metals is an employer with real opportunity for long term career growth, this is a place to build a career, not just hold a job.

Requirements

5+ years of government relations, defense industrial base, policy, or comparable experience working with DoD, the executive branch, and the Hill
Deep relationships across the Pentagon, the services, OSD, and relevant program offices
Fluent in DPA Title III, OSC, OTAs (including Cornerstone), DIU, and the broader non-dilutive defense capital landscape
Experienced engaging on industrial base policy, Section 232, tariffs, critical materials, and reindustrialization initiatives
Comfortable on the Hill, in the Pentagon, in industry coalitions, and on a factory floor in Detroit
Strong writer, every memo, white paper, capability statement, and RFI response is sharp and accurate
Cracked with AI tools, modern software, and data, you build a government relations function that runs like a startup, not a beltway shop
Tightly partnered with software teams in past roles, comfortable writing specs, filing tickets, and shaping the tools you use
High attention to quality, every brief, every meeting, every commitment
Always thinking about how to make processes better, you do not accept "this is how we have always done it"
Absolutely customer obsessed, the Pentagon and the program offices are real customers and you treat them that way
A team player with a good attitude, you make the company better for everyone around you
Someone who takes ownership, if it touches government, it is your responsibility
Precise under pressure and reliable
Organized enough to run dozens of relationships, programs, and policy threads at once without dropping one
Committed to safety, you follow every protocol on every floor and never cut corners that put people at risk
High agency, you handle big items alone and ask for help when needed
Low ego, you walk the floor in Detroit, you sit through long meetings in DC, you do the unglamorous work because it needs to get done
Willing and able to travel between Detroit and DC frequently
Not afraid to work outside normal hours when America demands it
Never says "that's not my job"

Nice To Haves

Prior experience inside DoD, OSD, a service acquisition office, the Hill, or a defense prime's government relations team
Background working on DPA Title III awards, OTA agreements, or OSC lending authority programs
Direct experience supporting an early-stage defense or industrial company through government engagement and non-dilutive capital
Network across Michigan, the broader Midwest, and the American manufacturing and defense ecosystem
Comfortable using AI tools to work faster and smarter

Responsibilities

Own government relations end to end across DoD, the broader executive branch, the Hill, and aligned ecosystem partners
Build and run relationships across the Pentagon, OSD, the services, DPA Title III, OSC, DIU, the Cornerstone OTA, and adjacent vehicles
Pursue non-dilutive capital, grants, and contracting pathways across the defense industrial base ecosystem
Track and shape industrial base policy, Section 232, tariffs, reindustrialization initiatives, critical materials policy, and aluminum-specific actions
Engage on the Hill across the relevant committees, armed services, appropriations, finance, small business, and member offices in Michigan and key defense states
Lead Nox engagement with primes, tier 1s, and program offices on government-driven program needs
Build coalitions with aligned defense-tech, reindustrialization, and manufacturing companies and trade groups
Manage outside lobbying counsel, consultants, and any government-facing law firms when we use them
Translate policy and program requirements back into clear actions for the operations, supply chain, and software teams
Prepare materials for government audiences, briefings, capability statements, white papers, RFIs, and program responses
Lead Nox participation in industry days, program briefings, and government site visits to our facility
Manage Nox's posture on ITAR, EAR, FAR, DFARS, FOCI, and any compliance work tied to government engagement
Bring the customer's voice from DC and the Pentagon back to the team in Detroit every single day
Travel regularly between Detroit and DC, the relationships are in DC and the company is in Detroit
Bring ideas from your background that nobody on the team has thought of yet
Always ask questions, never guess when something is unclear
Look at every program and policy lever and figure out how to make it work harder for Nox
Work safely on every floor you visit and hold yourself to the same standard we hold our team to