Growth Lead - Ground Defense

Applied Intuition•Ann Arbor, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Applied Intuition is the vehicle intelligence company that accelerates the global adoption of safe, AI-driven machines. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion following its recent Series F funding round, Applied Intuition delivers the Vehicle OS, Self-Driving System, and toolchain to help customers build intelligent vehicles and shorten time to market. 18 of the top 20 global automakers and major programs across the Department of Defense trust Applied Intuition's solutions to deliver vehicle intelligence. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture industries and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Diego, CA, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Ann Arbor, MI, London, Stuttgart, Munich, Stockholm, Bangalore, Seoul, and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co. We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. (Note: For EpiSci job openings, fully remote work will be considered by exception.) We are seeking an accomplished Business Development (BD) Lead to expand our engagements across the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) ground vehicle and autonomy ecosystem. This role will focus on programs within PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS), PEO Combat Support & Combat Service Support (CS&CSS), PEO Land Systems (USMC), and PEO SOF Warrior, with emphasis on unmanned and optionally manned ground vehicles, lethality and survivability systems, autonomy software, and vehicle retrofits. The ideal candidate will combine technical fluency in autonomy and ground systems with deep knowledge of DoD acquisition, rapid prototyping pathways, and the evolving software-defined force.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
10+ years of experience in defense business development, capture management, or program leadership
Deep familiarity with Army Futures Command (and the new Transformation and Training Command), PEO GCS, PEO CS&CSS, PEO Land Systems, and PEO SOF Warrior organizations, mission sets, and acquisition pathways
Proven success capturing and executing DoD contracts within ground vehicle, autonomy, or mission systems markets
Strong network within Army, Marine Corps, and SOCOM program offices and associated OEM partners (e.g., GLDS, GM Defense, Oshkosh, AM General, Textron, BAE Systems)
Knowledge of drive-by-wire systems, autonomy stacks, vehicle simulation, and modular payload architectures
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills
Familiarity with CSO and OTA mechanisms, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) transitions, and other rapid procurement pathways
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Nice To Haves

Prior military or government experience supporting Army ground combat, logistics, or SOF mobility programs
Hands-on experience with vehicle prototyping, system integration, or autonomy software testing
Understanding of software assurance, cyber survivability, and mission-autonomy integration in ground combat environments
Familiarity with PEO Soldier and the U.S. Army’s small UAS programs

Responsibilities

Lead business development strategy and execution across Army, USMC, and SOCOM ground portfolios, including programs of record, new starts, and rapid acquisition efforts
Develop and implement capture strategies aligned with modernization priorities
Build enduring relationships with acquisition executives, program managers, requirements developers, and technical leads within the DoD, as well as key OEM and integrator partners
Shape requirements and influence procurement strategies to accelerate the adoption of autonomy, simulation, and software-defined vehicle technologies
Track and assess market trends, threat evolution, and competitor activities across ground autonomy, digital C2, and lethality integration ecosystems
Lead and support proposal and white paper development, including responses to CSOs, OTAs, BAAs, and JPEO/PEO-level solicitations
Represent Applied Intuition at government and industry events to strengthen brand awareness and market position