Lead Proposal Writer

Lockheed Martin Corporation•Highlands Ranch, CO

33d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Proposal Writer will bring proven federal proposal writing expertise and excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate with technical and proposal teams, drafting compelling, compliant proposals. They will lead drafting, messaging, and writing quality improvement for critical, high-priority pursuits and special assignments, serving as lead writer, volume lead, and expert writing support. An integral member of proposal teams, the Senior Proposal writer will ensure delivery of high-quality, compliant proposals within tight cycles. The Senior Proposal Writer will join the expanding Proposal Writing team in LM Space Proposal Operations, collaborating with Proposal Managers, Creative Services staff, and AI specialists. The ideal candidate has a track record of mentoring and training peers, junior staff, and proposal team members, and can conduct constructive writing quality reviews. Bringing a keen eye for quality, responsiveness, and messaging, the ideal candidate will be a calm, collaborative expert who drives rigorous proposal writing standards on high-priority pursuits. We encourage applicants to highlight how their experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications in a cover letter and to attach unrestricted writing samples in the same document. This role will be based in Highlands Ranch, Denver. Local candidates will primarily work remotely, but will be required to be onsite for certain proposal development activities. Candidates relocated by LM for this role will work fully onsite.

Requirements

Federal proposal writing experience for high-value solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, oral presentations, etc), covering technical, management, and past performance volumes, and demonstrating deep knowledge of the acquisition process, FAR/DFARS, and evaluation criteria.
Exceptional written and oral communication with meticulous attention to detail, capable of turning complex technical concepts into clear, customer-focused narratives.
Proven leadership in proposal writing, including training, mentoring, and driving process improvement initiatives and quality reviews.
Strong collaborative ability, building effective relationships across diverse, cross-functional teams, and thriving under tight proposal cycle timelines.
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) and eligibility to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI.
This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: TS/SCI

Nice To Haves

Experience in the Aerospace and Defense industry.
Formal training or certifications in federal proposal writing, capture, or business development (e.g., Shipley).
Experience using generative AI tools and historical proposal databases to accelerate content creation.
Leadership experience in related proposal development roles, such as Capture Manager, Proposal Manager, and Business Development.
Current TS/SCI security clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as lead writer, volume lead, and/or expert writing support for critical, high-priority RFPs, RFIs, and special assignments.
Partner with capture and business development teams to craft compelling proposal narratives that align with LM value propositions and win strategies.
Act as proposal writing subject matter expert to drive quality improvement.
Collaborate with the Proposal Operations team to provide seamless, high-quality proposal support throughout the bid lifecycle.
Mentor and train colleagues on proposal writing best practices; design and deliver trainings.
Drive end-to-end enhancements and implementation of proposal writing tools, workflows, and offerings.